1




FUTURETRONIUM®,

The Revolution II!
by Andres Agostini

V er s i o n 1 0 0 . 0 ─ D e c e m b e r / 1 4 /2 0 1 0




                                                               Unabridged
                                                                version!




( F o r t h c o m i n g v e r s i o n s , a s w e l l a s o th e r r e s o u r c e s , w i l l b e
announced            via     www.twitter.com/Futuretronium                              ─Until
indicated otherwise via www.twitter.com/Futuretronium ,
T h e F u t u r e t r o n i u m B o o k w i l l b e a n on g o i n g i n i t i a t i v e a n d
p er i o d i c a l l y u p g r a d e d , r e f i n e d a n d ex t e n d e d . )


   (This        Proprietary             Book         may        be      r e p r o d u c ed    for
noncommercial purposes if it is copied in its entirety,
i n c l u d i n g t h i s n o t i c e . Pl e a s e r e c a l l t h a t “ i f i t i s c o p i e d in
its entirety, including this notice.”)
2




# 1 F U T U R E T R O N I U M ® , A N D T H E A D M I N I S T R A T I O N AN D
A P P L I C A T I O N O F T H E S C I E N T I F I C M E T HO D W I T H O U T
I N N U EN D O S AN D I N C R E S C E N D O A S F L U I D P O I N T S O F
INFLECTIONS          ASCERTAIN           T H AT    THE      MORROW         IS      A
THING OF THE PAST.


#2 FUTURETRONIUM®, SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE IS NOW
AN D        HERE          AVAILABLE               THE          U N A BR I D G E D ,
AUTHORITATIVE             ELICITATION          AND      ELUCIDATION               OF
ACTIONABLE            K N O W L ED G E      FROM         AND         FOR      THE
I N C E S S AN T L Y AR R H Y T H M I C , A B R U P T , A N T A G O N I S T I C ,
MORDANT,         CAUSTIC,        AN D     ANARCHISTIC               FUTURE,       AS
WELL       AS     THE      C O N T EN T I O U S    INTERRELATIONSHIP
B E T W E E N S U C H F U T U R E AN D T H E P R E S EN T .


#3     FUTURETRONIUM®,               A    RADICAL          YET       RIGOROUS
STRONG-SENSE             AND       C R I T I C O - CR E A T I V E    «FUTURES
T H I N K I N G » , S Y S T E M S A P P R O A C H T O Q U I N T E S S EN T I A L
U N D ER S T A N D I N G O F T H E C O M P L E X I T I E S , S U B T L E T I E S ,
AN D I N T R I C A C I E S , A S W E L L A S T H E O P P O R T U N I T I E S T O
BE     EXPLOITED           OUT       OF     THE        DRIVING          FORCES
INSTILLING AND INFLICTING PERPETUAL CHANGE INTO
TWENTIETH-ONE CENTURY .
3




By ( c) C o p y r i g h t 2 0 1 0 b y A n d r e s A g o s t i n i — A l l R i g h t s
R es e r v e d ―




W       h a t d o e s n ’ t g e t u n d e r s t o o d i n t h i s a g e b e c o m e s a ma j o r

liability. To this end Henry Kissinger’s quotation is timely.
E n s u i n g : “ A n i gn o r e d i s s u e i s a n i n v i t a t i on t o a p r o b l e m. ” [ 1 2 ]


Forget what you know and just believe in what you see and sense.
I t’ s t i m e f o r y o u t o e x p l o r e , c on c e iv e , d e v e l o p , d i s c o v e r a n d
institute        your       own       Futures         —     exploiting          the      UPSIDES            and
D OW N S I D E S o f t h e s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y c ov e r t a n d i g n o r e d o n e s —
u n l e s s y ou w i l l m a k e y o u r s e l f e n s l a v e d b y c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e y o n d
y o u r c o n t r o l , r e g a r d l e s s o f y o u r “ p o w e r s . ” K i n d l y p l e a s e , if y o u ’ d
like, make your choices wisely and by you and for yourself!


T h e u n d e r s i g n e d i s i n n o wa y a t t e m p t i n g t o b e e i t h e r a s e e r , o r a
soothsayer, diviner, foreteller, or prophet, who can foretell the
future. In managing corporate and operational risks of many
diverse natures, one needs not only to identify and recognize
h a z a r d s b u t t o a n t i c i p a t e , v e r y e a r l y o n , f u t u r e a n d a dv a n c e d
d i s r u p t i o n p o t e n t i a l , d o i n g s o i n t h e t r a d i t i o n o f r i g o r o u s f u tu r e s
4




studies coupled with other disciplines. In the last analysis and
v e r y s e r i o u s l y s t a t e d , t h e v ie w h e r e o f f e r s a l u c r a t iv e a n d a u se f u l
l e a r n i n g a n d p ra c t i c a l t o o l t h a t r e qu i r e s f r o m p r a c t i t i o n e r s m u c h
better             p r e pa r e d n e s s   before        systemic           volatility,           universal
uncertainty and ubiquitous change and ambiguity.


T h e o b j e c t i v e i s t h e u n de r s t a n d i n g t h e c o m p l e x a n d s u b t l e n a t u r e
and progression of many explosive driving forces that shape and
r e - s h a p e t h e k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n w o r l d . F u tu r i s t s s p e a k , o u t o f
b r i e f s y n t h e s i s , a b o u t t r e n d s a n d t e n d e n c ie s a n d p r o p e n s i t i e s o f
s o m e o f s a i d d r i v i n g f o r c e s . T he s e d r i v i n g f o r c e s a re n o t o n l y
m e g a , d i v e r s e d y n a m o s t h a t o u t p u t c h a n g e b u t a l s o c ha l l e n g e s ,
opportunities and benefits for those who are prepared and paying
incessantly great detailed attention.


T h e s e d r i v i n g f o rc e s , i n c i d e n t a l l y , e x p e l : ( 1) O p e n - e n d e d c h a n g e s ,
(2) Preemptive changes, and (3) “All-out war-waging” (that is,
boundaryless) changes.


You manage risks to increase your benefits and opportunities and
t o a u g m e n t t h e r e s i l i e n c y a n d a da p t a b i l i t y o f t h e s u s t a i n a b i l i t y o f
said benefits and opportunities. In Transformative and Integrative
R i s k M a n a g e m e n t ( be l o w ) , m a n a g i n g r i s k s ─ n o t t o b r i n g a b o u t
i l lu s i o n s     of    meaning          ─   are    nothing         else      than      the      optimum
5




management of the upsides and downsides embedded in the driving
forces.


Subsequently,                  the   material         in     this      book        ranges         over      many
disciplines, as well as the work of many outstanding scientists.


F u r t h e r m o r e , p r e s e n t d r i v i n g f o r c e s ( sc i e n c e , t e c h n o l o g y , s o c i e t y ,
p o l i t i c s a n d e c o n o m y ) a r e c hu r n i n g i n s u r m o u n t a b l e a m o u n t s o f
unprecedented                   change        with         increasing           energy          and        scope.
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l i s c o m m u n ic a t e d w i t h m a r k e d
emphasis indeed. The undersigned does not and will not dare to
oversimplify and/or underestimate the consequences and sequels
of these gargantuan driving forces.


TO      O F F ER         G R E AT E R           INSIGHT              QUICKLY,               LET’        SEE        A
PRIMER                 ON            TECHNOLOGICAL                            AND             SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE. ENSUING:


D r . M i c h i o Ka k u , P h . D . i n d i c a t e s : “ … . B y t h e e n d o f t h e t w e n t i et h
c e n t u r y , s c i e n c e h ad r e a c h e d t h e en d o f a n e r a , u n l o c k i n g t h e
s e c r e t s o f t h e a t o m , u n r a v e l i n g t h e m o l ec u l e o f l i f e , an d c r e at i n g
the       e l ec t r o n i c     c o m p u t er .     With         these         three         fundamental
discoveries,            t r i g g e r ed   by       the    quantum            revolution,            the     DNA
r e v o l u t i on , a n d t h e c o m p u t e r r e v o lu t i on , t h e b a s i c l a w s o f m at t e r ,

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  • 1. 1 FUTURETRONIUM®, The Revolution II! by Andres Agostini V er s i o n 1 0 0 . 0 ─ D e c e m b e r / 1 4 /2 0 1 0 Unabridged version! ( F o r t h c o m i n g v e r s i o n s , a s w e l l a s o th e r r e s o u r c e s , w i l l b e announced via www.twitter.com/Futuretronium ─Until indicated otherwise via www.twitter.com/Futuretronium , T h e F u t u r e t r o n i u m B o o k w i l l b e a n on g o i n g i n i t i a t i v e a n d p er i o d i c a l l y u p g r a d e d , r e f i n e d a n d ex t e n d e d . ) (This Proprietary Book may be r e p r o d u c ed for noncommercial purposes if it is copied in its entirety, i n c l u d i n g t h i s n o t i c e . Pl e a s e r e c a l l t h a t “ i f i t i s c o p i e d in its entirety, including this notice.”)
  • 2. 2 # 1 F U T U R E T R O N I U M ® , A N D T H E A D M I N I S T R A T I O N AN D A P P L I C A T I O N O F T H E S C I E N T I F I C M E T HO D W I T H O U T I N N U EN D O S AN D I N C R E S C E N D O A S F L U I D P O I N T S O F INFLECTIONS ASCERTAIN T H AT THE MORROW IS A THING OF THE PAST. #2 FUTURETRONIUM®, SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE IS NOW AN D HERE AVAILABLE THE U N A BR I D G E D , AUTHORITATIVE ELICITATION AND ELUCIDATION OF ACTIONABLE K N O W L ED G E FROM AND FOR THE I N C E S S AN T L Y AR R H Y T H M I C , A B R U P T , A N T A G O N I S T I C , MORDANT, CAUSTIC, AN D ANARCHISTIC FUTURE, AS WELL AS THE C O N T EN T I O U S INTERRELATIONSHIP B E T W E E N S U C H F U T U R E AN D T H E P R E S EN T . #3 FUTURETRONIUM®, A RADICAL YET RIGOROUS STRONG-SENSE AND C R I T I C O - CR E A T I V E «FUTURES T H I N K I N G » , S Y S T E M S A P P R O A C H T O Q U I N T E S S EN T I A L U N D ER S T A N D I N G O F T H E C O M P L E X I T I E S , S U B T L E T I E S , AN D I N T R I C A C I E S , A S W E L L A S T H E O P P O R T U N I T I E S T O BE EXPLOITED OUT OF THE DRIVING FORCES INSTILLING AND INFLICTING PERPETUAL CHANGE INTO TWENTIETH-ONE CENTURY .
  • 3. 3 By ( c) C o p y r i g h t 2 0 1 0 b y A n d r e s A g o s t i n i — A l l R i g h t s R es e r v e d ― W h a t d o e s n ’ t g e t u n d e r s t o o d i n t h i s a g e b e c o m e s a ma j o r liability. To this end Henry Kissinger’s quotation is timely. E n s u i n g : “ A n i gn o r e d i s s u e i s a n i n v i t a t i on t o a p r o b l e m. ” [ 1 2 ] Forget what you know and just believe in what you see and sense. I t’ s t i m e f o r y o u t o e x p l o r e , c on c e iv e , d e v e l o p , d i s c o v e r a n d institute your own Futures — exploiting the UPSIDES and D OW N S I D E S o f t h e s u r r e p t i t i o u s l y c ov e r t a n d i g n o r e d o n e s — u n l e s s y ou w i l l m a k e y o u r s e l f e n s l a v e d b y c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e y o n d y o u r c o n t r o l , r e g a r d l e s s o f y o u r “ p o w e r s . ” K i n d l y p l e a s e , if y o u ’ d like, make your choices wisely and by you and for yourself! T h e u n d e r s i g n e d i s i n n o wa y a t t e m p t i n g t o b e e i t h e r a s e e r , o r a soothsayer, diviner, foreteller, or prophet, who can foretell the future. In managing corporate and operational risks of many diverse natures, one needs not only to identify and recognize h a z a r d s b u t t o a n t i c i p a t e , v e r y e a r l y o n , f u t u r e a n d a dv a n c e d d i s r u p t i o n p o t e n t i a l , d o i n g s o i n t h e t r a d i t i o n o f r i g o r o u s f u tu r e s
  • 4. 4 studies coupled with other disciplines. In the last analysis and v e r y s e r i o u s l y s t a t e d , t h e v ie w h e r e o f f e r s a l u c r a t iv e a n d a u se f u l l e a r n i n g a n d p ra c t i c a l t o o l t h a t r e qu i r e s f r o m p r a c t i t i o n e r s m u c h better p r e pa r e d n e s s before systemic volatility, universal uncertainty and ubiquitous change and ambiguity. T h e o b j e c t i v e i s t h e u n de r s t a n d i n g t h e c o m p l e x a n d s u b t l e n a t u r e and progression of many explosive driving forces that shape and r e - s h a p e t h e k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n w o r l d . F u tu r i s t s s p e a k , o u t o f b r i e f s y n t h e s i s , a b o u t t r e n d s a n d t e n d e n c ie s a n d p r o p e n s i t i e s o f s o m e o f s a i d d r i v i n g f o r c e s . T he s e d r i v i n g f o r c e s a re n o t o n l y m e g a , d i v e r s e d y n a m o s t h a t o u t p u t c h a n g e b u t a l s o c ha l l e n g e s , opportunities and benefits for those who are prepared and paying incessantly great detailed attention. T h e s e d r i v i n g f o rc e s , i n c i d e n t a l l y , e x p e l : ( 1) O p e n - e n d e d c h a n g e s , (2) Preemptive changes, and (3) “All-out war-waging” (that is, boundaryless) changes. You manage risks to increase your benefits and opportunities and t o a u g m e n t t h e r e s i l i e n c y a n d a da p t a b i l i t y o f t h e s u s t a i n a b i l i t y o f said benefits and opportunities. In Transformative and Integrative R i s k M a n a g e m e n t ( be l o w ) , m a n a g i n g r i s k s ─ n o t t o b r i n g a b o u t i l lu s i o n s of meaning ─ are nothing else than the optimum
  • 5. 5 management of the upsides and downsides embedded in the driving forces. Subsequently, the material in this book ranges over many disciplines, as well as the work of many outstanding scientists. F u r t h e r m o r e , p r e s e n t d r i v i n g f o r c e s ( sc i e n c e , t e c h n o l o g y , s o c i e t y , p o l i t i c s a n d e c o n o m y ) a r e c hu r n i n g i n s u r m o u n t a b l e a m o u n t s o f unprecedented change with increasing energy and scope. A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l i s c o m m u n ic a t e d w i t h m a r k e d emphasis indeed. The undersigned does not and will not dare to oversimplify and/or underestimate the consequences and sequels of these gargantuan driving forces. TO O F F ER G R E AT E R INSIGHT QUICKLY, LET’ SEE A PRIMER ON TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. ENSUING: D r . M i c h i o Ka k u , P h . D . i n d i c a t e s : “ … . B y t h e e n d o f t h e t w e n t i et h c e n t u r y , s c i e n c e h ad r e a c h e d t h e en d o f a n e r a , u n l o c k i n g t h e s e c r e t s o f t h e a t o m , u n r a v e l i n g t h e m o l ec u l e o f l i f e , an d c r e at i n g the e l ec t r o n i c c o m p u t er . With these three fundamental discoveries, t r i g g e r ed by the quantum revolution, the DNA r e v o l u t i on , a n d t h e c o m p u t e r r e v o lu t i on , t h e b a s i c l a w s o f m at t e r ,
  • 6. 6 li f e , a n d c o m p u t at i o n w er e , i n t h e m a i n , fi n a l l y s o l v e d … . T h a t epic phase of science is now drawing to a close; one era is ending a n d a n ot h e r i s o n l y b e g i n n i n g …. T h e n e xt e r a o f sc i e n c e pr o m i s e s t o b e an e v en d e e p e r , m o r e t h o r o u gh g o i n g , m o r e p e n et r a t i n g o n e t h a n t h e l a s t … . C l e a r l y , w e a r e o n t h e t h r e s h o ld o f y e t a n o t h e r r e v o l u t i on . H U M A N K N O W L E D G E I S D O UB L I N G E V E R Y T E N Y E A R S [ A S P E R T H E 1 9 9 8 S T A N D A R D S ] . I n t h e p a s t d e c ad e , m o r e s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e h a s b e e n c r e a t ed t h a n i n a l l o f h u m a n h i s t o r y . C O M P U T E R P O W E R I S D O UB L I N G E V E R Y E I G H T E E N MONTHS. THE INTERNET IS DOUBLING EVERY YEAR. THE N U M B E R O F D N A S E Q U E N C E S W E CA N A N A L Y Z E I S D O UB L I N G E V E R Y T W O Y E A R S . A l m o s t d ai l y , t h e h e a d li n e s h e r a ld n e w ad v a n c e s i n c o m p u t e r s , t e l ec o m m u n i c a t i o n s , b i o t ec h n o l o g y , a n d s p a c e e x p l o r at i o n . I n t h e w a k e o f t h i s t ec h n o l o g i c a l u p h e a v a l , en t i r e i n d u s t r i e s a n d l i f e s t y l e s a r e b e i n g o v e r t u r n ed , o n l y t o g i v e r i s e t o en t i r e l y n e w o n e s . B u t t h e s e r ap i d , b e wi l d er i n g c h a n g e s a r e n ot j u s t q u a n t i t at i v e . T h e y m a r k t h e b i r t h p a n g s o f a n e w e r a … . F R O M N O W T O T H E Y E A R 2 0 2 0 , S CI E N T I S T S F O R E S E E A N E X P L O S I O N I N S C I E N T I F I C A C T I V I T Y S UC H AS T H E W O R L D HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. IN TWO KEY TECHNOLOGIES, COMPUTER POWER AND THE DNA SEQUENCING, WE WILL SEE ENTIRE INDUSTRIES RISE AND FA L L ON THE B AS I S OF B R E A T HT A K I N G S C I E N T I F I C A D V A N C E S . S I N C E T H E 1 9 5 0 S , T H E P O W E R O F O U R C O M P UT E R S H AS A D V A N C E D B Y A F A C T O R
  • 7. 7 OF ROUGHLY TEN BILLION. IN F A CT , B E C A US E BOTH COMPUTER POWER AND DNA SEQUENCING DOUBLE ROUGHLY EVERY TWO YEARS, ONE CAN COMPUTE THE ROUGH TIME F R A M E O V E R W HI C H M A N Y S CI E N T I F I C B R E A K T H R O U G H S WILL TAKE PLACE .... BY 2020, MICROPROCESSORS WILL L I K E L Y B E A S A C H E A P A N D P L E N T I F U L AS S C R A P P A P E R , SCATTERED BY THE MILLIONS I NT O ENVIRONMENT, ALLOWING US TO PLACE I NT E L L I G E N T SYSTEMS E V E R Y W H E R E . T HI S W I L L C H A N G E E V E R Y T H I N G A R O U N D US , I N C L U D I NG T H E N A T U R E O F C O M M E R C E , T H E W E A L T H O F N A T I O N S , A N D T H E W A Y W E C O M M U N I C AT E , W O R K , P L A Y , AND LIVE.” [171] President John F. Kennedy’s speech on September 12, 1962 at Race U n i v e r s i t y : “ D e s p i t e t h e s t r i k i n g f ac t t h a t m o s t o f t h e s c i e n t i s t s that the world has ever known are alive and working today, d e s p i t e t h e f ac t t h a t t h i s N a t i o n ’ s o wn s c i en t i f i c m a n p o w e r i s d o u b l i n g e v er y 1 2 y e a r s i n a r a t e o f gr o w t h m o r e t h an t h r e e t i m e s t h a t o f ou r p o p u l a t i o n a s a w h o l e , d e s p i t e t h at , t h e v a s t st r e t c h e s o f t h e u n k n o w n a n d t h e u n an s w e r e d a n d t h e u n f i n i s h e d s t i ll f ar ou t s t r i p o u r c ol l e c t i v e c o m pr e h e n s i o n . ” [ 8 0 ] T o f u r t h e r s e t t h e s t a g e f o r t h i s m a t e r i a l , t h e t e x t b o o k “ E i n st e i n i n t h e B o ar d r o o m ” b y S u za n n e S . H a r r i s o n a n d P a t r i c k H . S u l l iv a n S r .
  • 8. 8 may offer some lucid ideas on the “current” state of affairs when t h e y c la i m : “ Hu m a n s h a v e b e en ad d i n g t o t h ei r t o t a l k n o w l e d g e st e a d i l y o v e r the c en t u r i e s , and the amount of knowledge we create is mu l t i p l y i n g a t a n i n c r ed i b l e r a t e . B e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e a m o u n t o f k n o w l e d g e i n t h e k n o w n w o r ld at t h e t i m e o f C h r i s t , s t u d i e s h a v e e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e f i r s t d ou b l i n g o f t h a t k n o w l ed g e t o o k p l ac e ab o u t 1 7 0 0 A . D . T h e s e c on d d ou b li n g o c c u r r e d a r ou n d t h e y e a r 1 9 0 0 . I t i s e s t i m a t e d t od a y t h a t t h e w o r ld ' s k n o w l e d g e b a s e wi l l d o u b l e a g a i n b y 2 0 1 0 a n d a g a i n a ft e r t h a t b y 2 0 1 3 . ” [ 3 7 ] T h e r e a r e m a n y s e r i o u s pu b l i c a t i o n s , f r o m 2 0 0 3 t o t h i s d a t e , s p e a k i n g o f t h e e n t i r e t y o f s c i e n t i f i c kn o w l e d g e d o u b l i n g e v e r y f i v e (5) years and sooner. How, then, can one undertake such a g a r g a n t u a n c ha l l e n g e , t h r o u g h t h e “ S o c i e t y o f K n o w l e d g e ” ( t h a t also embraces the “infotech economy”), unless it is through the s t e w a r d s h i p o f t h e m o s t r i g o r o u s a n d a d v a n c e d s c i e n t if i c m e t h o d ? [129] Hu m a n k n o w l e d g e c a p ab i l i t y wi l l c o n t i n u e t o d o u b l e e v e r y y e a r . “ Hu m a n knowledge c a p ab i l i t y ” is the quantity of available k n o w l e d g e m u l t i p l i ed b y t h e p o w e r o f t e c h n o l o g y t o pr o c e s s t h a t knowledge. This capability will increase by two to the power of
  • 9. 9 1 0 0 , t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f a t h o u s a n d b i l li o n b i ll i o n , i n t h e t w en t y - first century. — James Martin, “The 17 Great Challenges of the T we n t y - F i r s t Century,” Jan-Feb 2007, p. 24 [ T he Fu t u r i s t Magazine’s Top-10 Forecast for 2010] Subsequently, given the immense level of complexity progression and density, there is one axiom we will need to live by (that is, if we wish to be successful in prevailing) that indicates: “The s i g n i f i c a n t p r o b l e m s w e f ac e c an n o t b e s o l v e d at t h e s a m e l e v e l o f t h i n k i n g w e w e r e at w h e n w e c r e a t e d t h e m. ” ( B y A l b e r t E i n s t e i n ) [153] C h i n a m u l l s $ 1 . 5 t r i l l i o n s t r a t e g i c i n du s t r i e s b o o s t ? Ho w far can China go to pervasively cutting-edge science and technology while the West, seemingly and allegedly, does n o t g e t i t s a c t t o g et h e r ? W h a t d o e s a p r o m i n en t n e w s agency have to report on it? R e u t e r s ( D e c 0 3 , 2 0 1 0 ) : “ C h i n a i s c on s i d er i n g i n v e s t m e n t s o f u p t o $ 1 . 5 t r i l l i on o v e r f i v e y e a r s i n s e v e n s t r a t e g i c i n d u st r i e s , sources said, a plan aimed at a c c e l e r at i n g the country's t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e w or l d ' s su p p l i er o f c h e a p g o o d s t o a l e ad i n g purveyor of high-value t ec h n o l o g i e s …. Analysts expressed s k e p t i c i s m at t h e s h e e r a m ou n t o f m o n e y ─ i t eq u a t e s t o a b o u t 5
  • 10. 10 p er c en t o f C h i n a ' s g r o s s d o m e s t i c pr o d u c t o n a n a n n u a l b a s i s ─ b u t s a i d t h a t t h e e y e - p o p p i n g h e a d l i n e fi g u r e w a s an i n d i c at i o n o f t h e g o v e r n m en t ' s d et e r m i n a t i on t o c a t a l y z e a s t r u c t u r a l s h i ft i n the economy …. THE T A R G E T ED SECTORS INCLUDE A L T ER N A T I V E ENERGY, B I O T E C H N O LO G Y , NEW- G E N E R A T IO N INFORMATION T E C H N O LO G Y , HIGH-END EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING, ADVANCED MATERIALS, A L T ER N A T I V E - F U E L CARS AND ENERGY-SAVING AND E N V IR O N M E N T A L L Y FR I E N D L Y T E C H N O LO G I E S … . B ei j i n g h a s s a i d b e f or e t h a t i t w an t s t o pr o m o t e t h e s e c t o r s , a p o li c y t h a t i t h o p e s wi l l m a k e t h e c ou n t r y l e s s d e p en d en t o n l o w - en d , d i r t y m a n u f a c t u r i n g . T h e v a l u e - ad d ed o u t p u t o f t h e s e v e n s t r at e g i c i n d u s t r i e s t o g et h e r a c c o u n t f or ab o u t 2 p e r c e n t o f G D P n o w . T h e g o v e r n m en t h a s s a i d i t w a n t s t h e m t o g e n e r at e 8 p e r c e n t o f G D P i n 2 0 1 5 a n d 1 5 p er c en t b y 2 0 2 0 . ” [ 1 7 6 ] Zillion impossible science facts turned into rampant realities? D r . M i c h i o Ka k u , P h . D . p o i n t s o u t : “A s a p h y s i c i s t , I h a v e l e a r n ed t h a t t h e ‘ i m p o s s i b l e ’ i s o f t e n a r e l a t i v e t er m … . I N M Y O W N SHORT LIFETIME I HAVE SEEN THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE BECOME ESTABLISHED SCIENTIFIC FACT OVER AND OVER A G A I N . S o i s i t i m p o s s i b l e t o t h i n k w e m i gh t o n e d a y b e a b l e t o
  • 11. 11 teleport ourselves from one place to another, or build a spaceship t h a t wi l l o n e d a y t a k e u s l i g h t - y e a r s t o t h e s t a r s ? … . I f w e w er e t o s o m e h o w en c ou n t er a c i v i l i z at i o n a mi l l i o n y e a r s m o r e ad v a n c ed t h a n ou r s , w ou l d t h e i r e v e r y d a y t ec h n o l o g y a p p e a r t o b e ‘ m a g i c ’ t o u s ? … . J u s t b ec a u s e s o m e t h i n g i s ‘ i m p o s s i b l e ’ t o d a y , w i l l i t r e m a i n i m p o s s i b l e c e n t u r i e s o r m i l li o n s o f y e a r s i n t o t h e fu t u r e ? … . G i v en t h e r e m a r k ab l e a d v a n c e s i n s c i en c e i n t h e p a s t c en t u r y , e s p e c i a l l y t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e q u a n t u m t h e or y a n d g e n e r a l r e l a t i v i t y , i t i s n o w p o s s i b l e t o gi v e r o u g h e s t i m a t e s o f w h en , i f e v e r , s o m e o f t h e s e f a n t a s t i c t e c h n o l o g i e s m a y b e r e a l i z ed . W i t h t h e c o mi n g o f e v e n m o r e ad v a n c ed t h e o r i e s , su c h a s s t r i n g t h e or y , e v e n c on c e p t s b o r d er i n g o n s c i e n c e fi c t i o n , s u c h a s t i m e t r a v e l and p ar a l l e l universes, are now b ec o m i n g re-evaluated by p h y s i c i s t s . T h i n k b ac k 1 5 0 y e a r s t o t h o s e t e c h n o l o g i c a l ad v a n c e s t h a t w er e d ec l a r ed ‘ i m p o s s i b l e ’ b y sc i e n t i s t s a t t h e t i m e an d t h a t h a v e n o w b ec o m e p a r t o f ou r e v e r y d a y li v e s . J u l e s V er n e w r o t e a n o v e l i n 1 8 6 3 , P a r i s i n t h e T w en t i et h C en t u r y , w h i c h w a s l oc k e d a w a y a n d f o r g o t t en f o r o v e r a c en t u r y u n t i l i t w a s a c c i d en t a l l y d i s c o v e r ed b y h i s gr e a t - gr a n d s o n a n d p u b l i s h ed f or t h e f i r st t i m e in 1994. In it Verne predicted what Paris might look like in the y e a r 1 9 6 0 . Hi s n o v e l w a s fi l l e d w i t h t ec h n o l o g y t h at w a s c l e ar l y c o n s i d er e d i m p o s s i b l e i n t h e n i n et e e n t h c en t u r y , i n c l u d i n g f a x machines, a world-wide communications n et w o r k , glass s k y s c r a p er s , g a s - p o w e r ed a u t o m ob i l e s , a n d h i g h - s p e ed el e v a t e d
  • 12. 12 t r a i n s … N o t s u r p r i s i n g l y , V e r n e c o u ld m a k e s u c h st u n n i n g l y ac c u r a t e p r e d i c t i o n s b e c au s e h e w a s i m m e r s e d i n t h e w o r l d o f s c i e n c e , p i c k i n g t h e b r a i n s o f s c i en t i s t s a r ou n d h i m . A d e e p a p p r e c i at i o n f o r t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s o f sc i e n c e a l l o w e d h i m t o m a k e s u c h s t a r t l i n g p r e d i c t i o n s …. I R O N I C A L L Y , T H E S E R I O U S S T U D Y O F T H E I M P O S S I B L E H A S F R E Q U E N T L Y O P E N E D U P RI C H A N D E N T I R E L Y U N E X P E C T E D D O M AI N S O F S C I E N C E . F o r e x a m p l e , over the c en t u r i e s the f r u s t r at i n g and futile search for a ‘ p e r p et u a l m o t i o n m a c h i n e ’ l ed p h y s i c i s t s t o c on c lu d e t h at s u c h a machine was impossible, f or c i n g them to postulate the c o n s e r v a t i on o f e n er g y an d t h e t h r e e l a w s o f t h er m o d y n a m i c s . T h u s t h e f u t i l e s e a r c h t o b u i l d p er p e t u a l m o t i o n m a c h i n e s h el p e d t o o p e n u p t h e e n t i r e l y n e w fi e l d o f t h er m o d y n a m i c s , w h i c h i n p ar t l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i on o f t h e st e a m e n gi n e , t h e m ac h i n e a g e , a n d m o d er n i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t y … . W e i gn o r e t h e i m p o s s i b l e a t ou r p er i l . I n t h e 1 9 2 0 s a n d 1 9 3 0 s R o b er t G o d d a r d , t h e f o u n d er o f m o d er n r o c k et r y , w a s t h e s u b j e c t o f i n t en s e c r i t i c i s m b y t h o s e w h o t h o u gh t t h a t r o c k et s c o u ld n e v e r t r a v e l i n o u t er s p a c e . T h e y s a r c a s t i c a l l y c a l l ed h i s p u r s u i t G o d d a r d ’ s F o l l y . I n 1 9 2 1 t h e ed i t or s o f t h e N e w Y o r k T i m e s r a i l ed a g a i n s t Dr . G o d d a r d ’ s w o r k : ‘ P r o f e s s o r G od d ar d d o e s n o t k n o w t h e r e l a t i o n b e t w e en a c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n a n d t h e n e e d t o h a v e s o m e t h i n g b et t e r t h an a v a c u u m a g a i n s t w h i c h t o r e ac t . H e s e e m s t o l a c k t h e b a s i c knowledge l ad l e d ou t daily in high schools.’ R o c k et s w er e
  • 13. 13 i mp o s s i b l e , t h e ed i t or s h u f f ed , b e c au s e t h er e w a s n o a i r t o pu s h a g a i n st i n o u t e r s p a c e. S ad l y , o n e h e a d o f s t at e d i d u n d e r s t an d t h e i m p l i c a t i on s o f G od d a r d ’ s ‘ i m p o s s i b l e ’ r o c k et s ─ A d o l p h H i t l e r . D u r i n g W o r l d W a r I I , G e r m an y ’ s b ar r a g e o f i m p o s s i b l y ad v a n c e d V - 2 r oc k e t s r a i n ed d e a t h an d d e s t r u c t i o n o n L o n d on , a l m o s t b r i n gi n g i t t o i t s k n e e s … . T i m e a n d a g a i n w e s e e t h a t t h e s t u d y o f t h e i mp o s s i b l e h a s o p e n ed u p e n t i r e l y n e w v i s t a s , pushing the boundaries of physics and chemistry and forcing scientists to redefine what they mean by ‘impossible.’ As Sir W i l l i a m O s l e r o n c e s a i d , ‘T H E P H I L O S O P H I E S O F O N E A G E H A V E BECOME THE ABSURDITIES OF THE NEXT, AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF YESTERDAY HAS BECOME THE WISDOM OF T OM O R R O W . ’ … . M a n y p h y s i c i s t s s u b sc r i b e t o t h e f a m o u s d i c t u m o f T . H . W h i t e , w h o wr o t e i n T h e O n c e a n d F u t u r e K i n g , ‘ A n y t h i n g t h a t i s n o t f o r b i d d e n , i s m a n d at o r y ! ’ I n ph y s i c s w e f i n d e v i d e n c e o f t h i s a l l t h e t i m e …. F o r e x a m p l e , c o s m o l o g i s t S t e p h e n H a w k i n g t r i ed t o p r o v e t h at t i m e t r a v e l w a s i m p o s s i b l e b y fi n d i n g a n e w law of physics that w o u ld forbid it, which he c a l l ed the ‘ c h r o n o l o g y p r o t ec t i on c o n j ec t u r e . ’ U n f or t u n a t e l y , a f t er m a n y y e a r s o f h ar d w o r k h e w a s u n a b l e t o pr o v e t h i s pr i n c i pl e . I n f a c t , t o t h e c o n t r a r y , p h y s i c i s t s h a v e n o w d e m on s t r a t ed t h a t a l a w t h a t p r e v e n t s t i m e t r a v e l i s b e y o n d o u r pr e s e n t - d a y m a t h e m a t i c s . T od a y , b ec a u s e t h e r e i s n o l a w o f ph y s i c s p r e v e n t i n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t i m e m a c h i n e s , p h y s i c i s t s h a v e h ad t o t a k e t h e i r p o s s i b i l i t y
  • 14. 14 very seriously …. Already one ‘impossible’ technology is now p r o v i n g t o b e p o s s i b l e: t h e n ot i o n o f t e l e p o r t a t i on ( at l e a s t a t t h e l e v e l o f at o m s ) . E v e n a f e w y e a r s a g o p h y s i c i s t s w o u ld h a v e s a i d t h a t s e n d i n g o r b e a m i n g an o b j ec t f r o m o n e p o i n t t o an o t h er v i o l a t ed t h e l a w s o f q u an t u m ph y s i c s . T h e w r i t er s o f t h e o r i g i n a l Star Trek television series, in fact, were so stung by the criticism f r o m p h y s i c i st s t h a t t h e y ad d ed ‘ H e i s e n b er g c o m p en s a t o r s ’ t o e x p l a i n t e l e p o r t e r s i n o r d e r t o a d d r e s s t h i s f l a w . T o d a y , b ec a u s e o f a r e c en t b r e a k t h r o u g h , ph y s i c i s t s c a n t el e p o r t a t o m s ac r o s s a r o o m or p h ot o n s u n d er t h e D a n u b e R i v er . ” [ 1 7 4 ] T o r e a d m o r e o n t h i s c i t a t i o n , g o t o A ma z o n a t h t t p : / / a m z n . t o / d H G k O W F r u i t f u l l y p l a n t i n g i n w h i c h t e n s e? “ T h e h e r i t a g e o f t h e p a s t i s t h e s e ed t h a t b r i n g s f o r t h t h e h a r v e s t o f t h e f u t u r e . ” ─ I n s c r i p t i o n f r o m s t a t u a r y pe d e s t a l a t N a t i o n a l Archives in Washington Many forces are not predictable but some others are predictable based on omniscience! Y o g i B e r r a : “ P r ed i c t i on i s v e r y h ar d , e s p e c i a l l y w h en i t ' s ab o u t the future.” [171]
  • 15. 15 W h o c r e a t e s t h e fu t u r e a n d w h o d o e s n ’ t ? M i c h a e l A n i s s i m o v : “ O n e o f t h e b i g g e s t fl a w s i n t h e c o m m on c o n c ep t i on o f t h e f u t u r e i s t h at t h e f u t u r e i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t h a p p en s t o u s, n ot s o m e t h i n g w e c r e a t e . ” [ 1 4 2 ] What are the ruthless drivers? Ha r o l d V a r m u s , N I H D i r e c t o r : “T h e r e a r e t h r e e g r e a t t h e m e s i n s c i e n c e i n t h e t w en t i et h c e n t u r y ─ t h e at o m , t h e c o m pu t e r , a n d t h e g e n e. ” [ 1 7 1 ] I n t e r a c t i n g w i t h t h e fu t u r e? R a i n e r M a r i a R i l k e : “ T h e fu t u r e e n t e r s i n t o u s i n o r d er t o t r a n s f o r m i t s e l f i n u s l o n g b e f or e i t h a p p en s . ” [ 1 4 2] I can offer this perspective as of now (the wonderful continuum) a n d u n d e r m y h u m a n a n d h u m a n e pe r s p e c t i v e . I d o l i k e a g r e a t d e a l s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y , b u t o n l y t o t h e t r u e s t s e r v ic e o f t h e g l o b a l c i v i l i za t i o n . G i v e n t h e u b i q u i t o u s d y n a m i c s s h i f t i n g t h r o u g h tsunamis, these days I find the term “continuum” beyond i n e f f e c t u a l a n d m o s t l y lu d i c r o u s .
  • 16. 16 N o n e t h e l e s s , i f y o u w a n t t o “ r e a l i t y - c h e c k ” t h e s e r e f le c t i o n s , y o u will be able, soonest, to have every detailed explanation by, say, an o m n i s c i e n t r o b o t h o v e r i n g “ m i d a i r ” i f y o u i n d e f in i t e l y p o s t p o n e y o u r h o m e w o r k a n d f a i l t o d o y o u r o w n in d e p e n d e n t r e s e a r c h , d o n e for and by you (as of now). What to consider about gauging the future? W i r e d ( 1 9 9 4 ) : “ T h e f u t u r e b e l on g s t o n ei t h er t h e c on d u i t o r c o n t en t p l a y e r s , b u t t h o s e w h o c on t r o l t h e f i lt e r i n g , s e a r c h i n g a n d s e n s e - m a k i n g t o o l s w e w i l l r e l y o n t o n a v i g a t e t h r ou g h t h e e x p a n s i on o f c yb e r s p a c e . ” [ 1 4 5 ] Horses, dogs and robotic dominance of all? S a m u e l B u t l e r ( 1 8 6 3 l e t t e r ) : “W h o wi l l b e m a n ’ s s u c c e s s o r ? T o which the answer is: We ar e ourselves creating our own s u c c e s s o r s . M an w i l l b e c o m e t o t h e m a c h i n e wh a t t h e h o r s e an d t h e d o g a r e t o m a n ; t h e c on c lu s i o n b ei n g t h at m ac h i n e s a r e, or a r e b ec o m i n g , a n i m a t e. ” [ 1 4 2] G o t o a n y “ s n a i l p a c e d ” n e w s p a p e r s ( on l i n e o r o l d - f a s h i o n e d “ o f f l i n e ” ) i n a d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r y a n d t h i s y o u ’ l l f in d w i t h i n t h e daily headlines: Fiction immensely superseded — through many
  • 17. 17 orders of magnitudes (that is, by hyper-geometrical exponential rates) — by realities, that is: the most incontrovertible and yet the most dramatic realities. People kind of see a part of the waves, but are famously infamously u n a wa r e t h a t m o s t p e r v a s i v e c u r r e n t s u n d e r n e a t h a re t h e t r u e d y n a m o s o f t h e s e s w i r l i n g c ha n g e d c h a n g e s . Brainy ones hyper-accelerating industries and beyond? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ M e an w h i l e , l on e i n d i v i d u a l s a r e b i r t h i n g n o t j u st c o m p a n i e s b u t e n t i r e i n d u s t r i e s t h a t r ap i d l y b e c o m e b i g g e r t h a n t h e e c o n o m i e s o f m o s t c ou n t r i e s . B u t u n li k e gr o w t h i n d u st r i e s o f t h e p a s t … c ar s an d a e r o s p a c e , f o r e x a m p l e … t h e i n d u s t r i e s t h at w i l l d o m i n at e ou r f u t u r e d e p e n d o n j u st a f e w s m a r t m i n d s … N o t a l o t o f m an p o w e r … S o d u r i n g a p e r i o d o f pr o s p e r i t y a n d ec o n o m i c gr o w t h … Wealth is ever more mobile and c o n c en t r a t e d . ” [ 1 6 3 ] What is the current rate of change? What is the as-of-now r a t e o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e do u b l i n g ? Mark Miller, computer scientist: “You know, things are going to b e r e a l l y d i f f er e n t … N o , n o , I m e a n r e a l l y d i f f e r en t . ” [ 1 4 2 ]
  • 18. 18 What are we morphing into? S i r A r t h u r C . C la r k e : “ I t ’ s a l s o a t ou r d e f o r c e o f p h ot o g r a p h y : t h e i m a g e s r e v e a l a wh o l e n e w or d e r o f c r e a t i on a b o u t t o c o m e i n t o e x i s t en c e. N o o n e w h o h a s an y i n t e r e s t i n t h e fu t u r e c a n a f f o r d it.” [164] The outcomes stemming of the intermixing of the exuberant technologies? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ Y ou a n d y o u r c h i l d r e n ar e a b o u t t o f a c e a s e r i e s o f u n p r ec e d en t ed m o r a l , et h i c a l , e c on o m i c , a n d f i n an c i a l i s s u e s . T h e c h oi c e s y o u m a k e [ a s w e l l a s t h o s e y o u ’ r e f ai l i n g t o m a k e b e c au s e o f l a c k o f d e t a i l e d , a d v a n c ed a n d d e e p a w a r e n e s s ] wi l l i mp a c t w h er e y o u l i v e , w h at y o u e a r n , w h a t y o u r g r an d c h i ld r en w i l l l o o k l i k e, h o w l on g y o u l i v e . I t a l l s t a r t s b e c au s e w e a r e m i xi n g a p p l e s , or a n g e s , a n d f l o p p y d i s k s . ” [ 1 6 3 ] W ha t i s i t m e a n t b y “ F u t u r e ” ? W h e n s p e a k in g a b o u t “ F UT U R E ” a s t h e u n d e r s i g n e d i s s p e a k in g a b o u t c ha n g e , t h e r e i s i n c lu d e d positive change and negative change (as well as the grave tradeoffs b e t w e e n [ a ] p o s i t i v e c h a n g e a n d [ b] n e g a t i v e c ha n g e ) . H o w e v e r ,
  • 19. 19 t h e e m p h a s i s i s t o u n d e r p i n t h e u p s i d e c h a n g e s a n d t o c r i p p le t h e downside changes. The undersigned will also be reflecting about some of the c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s b y s a i d c ha n g e s a n d t r a d e o f f s . F r o m p e r e n n i a l l y u p g r a d e d k n o w l e dg e i n t o d e c i s i v e , r u l i n g empires? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ T h e k n o w l e d g e r e v o lu t i on i s t a k i n g p l ac e i n s m a l l , s h a r p l y d e f i n e d a r e a s . O n e c o m p a n y g e n e r at e s m o r e U . S . p at e n t s t h a n 1 3 9 c ou n t r i e s d o t o g e t h e r … T h i s [ r e v o lu t i on ] g e n er a t e s n e w E M P I R E S a n d n e w g h e t t o s …. I t s l a m s i n t o e x i s t i n g s y s t e m s an d d e s t r o y s t h e m w h i l e c r e at i n g n e w s y s t e m s . C o u n t r i e s and individuals can either surf new and powerful waves of change ─or try to stop them and get crushed.” [163] S h o c k i n g t i m e s e q u a t e t o s h o c k i n g fu t u r es ? J o s e O r t e g a y G a s s e t : “ L i f e i s a s e r i e s o f c o l l i s i on s w i t h t h e fu t u r e ; i t i s n o t t h e s u m o f w h a t w e h a v e b e e n , b u t w h at w e y e a r n t o b e . ” [149] W hy e v e r y t h i n g c h a n g e s , b e g i n n i n g w i t h c h a n g e i t s e l f ?
  • 20. 20 N i c o l a T e s l a , 1 8 9 6 , I n v e n t o r o f A l t e r n a t i v e C u r r e n t : “ I d o n ot t h i n k t h e r e i s a n y t h r i l l t h at c a n g o t h r ou g h t h e h u m a n h e a r t li k e t h at f e l t b y t h e i n v e n t o r a s h e s e e s s o m e c r e at i o n o f t h e b r ai n unfolding to success.” [142] Is the new paradigm changing to so many paradigms simultaneously r es u l t i n g impossible to figure out any paradigm correctly? Juan Enriquez: “ M an y people, even some of the h e ad s of m e g a c or p o r a t i on s , f e e l t h a t t h e w o r l d i s m o v i n g t o o f a s t a s companies, even industries, disappear.” [163] W h a t a r e t h e b r a i n ’ s p r i o r i t i e s b e y on d s e i z i n g l i f e - s u p p o r t capabilities for its own sustainability? Michael Polanyi: “The mind is attracted by b e au t i fu l [and ad v a n c e d ] p r o b l e m s , p r o m i s i n g b e a u t i f u l [ a n d u s e fu l s o l u t i o n s ] . ” [160] What has become of fate and d es t i n y in times that neuroscience researchers are coming out with some
  • 21. 21 PRELIMINARY outcomes that seem to suggest: “The p r e s en t i s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e f u t u r e ” ? R o b e r t T h e o b a l d : “ O u r f u t u r e i s d e t er m i n ed b y t h e a c t i o n s o f a l l o f u s a l i v e t od a y . O u r c h o i c e s d et e r m i n e o u r d e s t i n y . ” [ 1 6 0 ] Which destiny is that? W i l l i a m J e n n i n g s B r y a n : “ D e s t i n y i s n o t a m at t e r o f c h an c e ─ i t i s a m a t t e r o f c h o i c e . I t i s n o t a t h i n g t o b e w a i t ed f o r ─ i t i s a t h i n g t o be achieved.” [174] W h a t a r e t h e c o s m o l o g i c a l t r a i t s o f t h i s o v e r - f r a g m e n t ed “society”? Indeed! D a v i d B r i n : “ W h a t d i st i n g u i s h e s s o c i e t y t o d a y i s n o t o n l y t h e p a c e o f e v e n t s , b u t a l s o t h e n at u r e o f t h e t o o l k i t f o r f a c i n g t h e fu t u r e . ” [160] What are the origins of future? “Do not presume that past success i n d i c at e s future i mp r e g n ab i l i t y . ” [ 1 5 4]
  • 22. 22 There is here a point of view about change (as change is partly explored here): A d a m G o r d o n : “ W e h a v e s e e n e y e - p o p p i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s ac r o s s s o c i e t y , t ec h n o l o g y , i n s t i t u t i on s , a n d p r od u c t s an d s e r v i c e s i n t h e l a s t g en e r a t i o n ; t h i s wi l l s u r e l y c o n t i n u e i n t o t h e fu t u r e … . i f w e d e c i d e t o d a y t o l au n c h a pr o d u c t , b u y a h ou s e , s t u d y f o r a d e g r e e , b u i l d a n e w l i gh t r ai l s y s t e m , o r t a k e a n y s i m i l a r d e c i s i on o f s i g n i f i c a n c e, t h e e n v i r o n m e n t o f t o m o r r o w wi l l b e a k e y f a c t o r i n t h e s u c c e s s o r f ai l u r e o f t h at d e c i s i on … . O u r d ec i s i o n s ar e o n l y a s good as the view of the fu t u r e they rest on [profound understanding of all of the driving forces shaping and re-shaping t h e en v i r o n m en t ] . A l l o p p or t u n i t i e s a n d s u c c e s s e s an d pr o f i t s ar e r e a l i z e d i n t h e f u t u r e . A l l t h r e at s , f a i l u r e s , a n d l o s s e s a r e r e a l i z ed i n t h e f u t u r e … . E i t h er w a y , t h e e a r l i e r a n d c l e a r er w e s e e f u t u r e c i r c u m s t an c e s , t h e b e t t e r w e wi l l b e a b l e t o b e n e f i t b y c h a n gi n g ou r c u r r e n t r e c i p e s f or s u c c e s s t o k e e p u p wi t h t h e c h a n g e s i n t h e w o r l d . T h e b e t t e r m an a g e r s ’ v i e w o f t h e fu t u r e , t h e b et t e r t h ei r d e c i s i o n s w i l l t u r n ou t t o b e … . ” [ 1 0 2 ] H o w d o e s c h a n g e a n d fu t u r e i n t e r r e l a t e ? Alvin Toffler: “Change is the process by which the future invades our lives.” [147]
  • 23. 23 W e h a v e g o n e u b i q u i t o u s l y d i g i t a l a n d g en e t i c a n d t h e c o n s eq u e n c e s are u n p r on o u n c e a b l e even in or d e r s of magnitude? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ D i g i t a l c o d e i s w h a t d r i v e s r a p i d s p e e d g r o wt h t od a y . I t a l l o w s m er g e r s li k e A O L T i m e W ar n e r … I t d r i v e s t h e I n t er n et , TV, music, f i n an c e , IT, news coverage, research, m a n u f a c t u r i n g . A f e w c o u n t r i e s an d c o m p an i e s u n d e r s t o o d t h e c h a n g e . T h a t i s h o w p o o r c ou n t r i e s l i k e Fi n l a n d , S i n g a p o r e , a n d T ai w a n g o t s o w e a l t h y … S o q u i c k l y … B u t a l o t o f f o l k s j u s t d i d n ot l e a r n t o r e a d a n d w r i t e a n e w l a n g u a g e … An d e v e n t h o u g h t h e y p r od u c e d m or e a n d m o r e g o o d s , p ar t i c u l a r l y c o m m o d i t i e s … A n d e v e n t h ou g h t h e y r e s t r u c t u r e d c o m p a n i e s a n d g o v e r n m en t s … C u t b u d g e t s , r a i s e d t a x e s , b u i l t l a r g e f a c t o r i e s an d b u i l d i n g s … T h e y g o t a l o t p o o r e r . ( I n 1 9 3 8 t h e r i c h e s t c ou n t r y p er p e r s o n i n A s i a w a s … t h e P h i l i p p i n e s . I n 1 9 5 4 , ac c or d i n g t o t h e W o r l d B an k , t h e m o s t p r o m i s i n g A s i a n e c on o m y w a s … B u r m a . B ot h r e m a i n c o m m o d i t y ec o n o m i e s … B o t h a r e s i d e l i n ed fr o m t h e d i gi t a l r e v o l u t i on … A n d y o u p r ob a b l y w ou l d n ot li k e t o l i v e i n e i t h e r c o u n t r y ) . Y o u r w o r l d c h an g e d wh e n y o u w en t ‘ O n L i n e . ’ O n e d a y y o u u s e d a f a x or e - m a i l … An d i t s o o n b e c a m e h a r d t o c o n c ei v e o f li v i n g w i t h on l y s n a i l m a i l. I f y o u u n d e r s t o o d t h i s c h a n g e e a r l y … A n d i n v e s t e d o r w o r k ed i n s o m e o f t h e c o m p a n i e s d r i v i n g t h e
  • 24. 24 d i g i t a l r e v o l u t i o n … Y o u a r e p r ob a b l y q u i t e w e l l o f f … ( a s a c o u n t r y a n d / or a s a n i n d i v i d u a l ) . I f y o u c a m e l a t e, a s a s p e c u l a t or , w i t h ou t u n d er s t a n d i n g w h a t a d i gi t a l l a n g u a g e d o e s , o r d o e s n ot d o … Y o u p r o b a b l y l o s t a l o t o f m o n e y d u r i n g t h e y e a r 2 0 0 0 . Y o u r w o r l d … a n d y o u r l a n g u a g e … ar e a b ou t t o c h an g e a g a i n . T h e t w o n u c l e o t i d e b a s e p ai r s t h at c od e a l l li f e … A - T , C - G … H a v e a l r e ad y l e d s o m e o f t h e w o r ld ’ s l a r g e s t c o m p an i e s … M on s a n t o … D u P o n t … N o v a r t i s … I B M … H o e s c h s t … C o m p a q … G l a x o S m i t h K l i n e … T o d ec l a r e t h at t h ei r f u t u r e li e s i n l i f e s c i en c e . T h e y h a v e a b a n d o n ed , s o l d , s p u n o f f c o r e b u si n e s s d i vi s i o n s … A n d l a u n c h e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t o s e l l i n g c o m pl e t e l y n e w p r o d u c t s … Which is wh y so many chemical, seed, cosmetic, food, p h a r m a c eu t i c a l c o m p an i e s … Ar e p a r t n e r i n g , M e r g i n g , G r o w i n g . S o m e l i f e - s c i e n c e c o m p a n i e s w i l l c r a s h s p ec t a c u l a r l y … Ot h e r s w i l l g et l ar g e r t h an M i c r o s o f t an d C i s c o … ( C o m p a n i e s t h a t a r e already l ar g e r t h an the e c o n o mi e s of most of the w o r ld ’ s c o u n t r i e s . ) . T h e w or l d ’ s m e g a - m e r g er s a r e g o i n g t o b e d r i v e n b y d i g i t a l an d g e n e t i c c od e . C o n s i d e r w h a t i s a b o u t t o h a p p e n t o m ed i c i n e . Y o u c u r r e n t l y s p e n d a b o u t n i n e t i m e s a s m u c h f o r d o c t or s a n d m e d i c a l i n t er v e n t i on s … A s y o u d o o n m ed i c i n e s a n d p r e v e n t i o n . I n t h e m e a s u r e t h at w e u n d e r s t a n d h o w v i r u s e s , b a c t er i a , a n d o u r b o d i e s a r e pr o g r a m m e d … An d h o w t h e y c a n b e reprogrammed … Treatment wi l l shift from e m e r g en c y i n t er v e n t i o n s … T o w a r d d e l i b e r a t e a n d p e r s o n a l i z ed p r e v e n t i o n …
  • 25. 25 ( Ju s t a s d en t i st r y d i d . ) . An d w e m a y e n d u p s p e n d i n g j u s t a s mu c h o n p h ar m a c e u t i c a l s a s w e d o o n d oc t or s . T h e s e m ed i c i n e s d o n ot h a v e t o b e p i l l s or i n j ec t i o n s … T h e y c ou ld b e a p a r t o f t h e food you eat every day, your soap or cosmetics … Perhaps you w i l l i n h a l e t h e m o r s i m p l y pu t v a r i o u s p a t c h e s o n y o u r s k i n . ( T h i s is wh y P r o c t er & Gamble is thinking of m er g i n g wi t h a p h a r m a c eu t i c a l c o m p an y , why L’Oréal is hiring m o l ec u l ar b i o l o g i s t s , a n d w h y C a m p b e l l ’ s i s s e l l i n g s o u p s d e s i gn e d f o r h o s p i t a l p a t i e n t s wi t h s p e c i f i c d i s e a s e s . ) . ” [ 1 6 3 ] Can we exercise our brains to solve complex problems e m b e d d e d i n t h e f u t u r e f o r t h e s a k e o f t h e c u r r en t p r e s e n t ? D r . M a r s h a l l M c L u h a n , P h . D . ( 1 9 6 2 ) : “ O u r w o r ld t o m or r o w w i l l b e u t t e r l y d i f f e r en t , i n w a y s w e c an n o t e v e n c on c ei v e . ” [ 1 7 5 ] What hijacks what? Dr. Stephen Covey: “Again, yesterday h o ld s tomorrow h o s t a g e … . M e m or y i s p a s t . I t i s f i n i t e . V i s i o n i s fu t u r e . I t i s i n f i n i t e. V i s i o n i s g r e a t er t h an h i s t o r y … ” [ 1 5 3 ] T h e c o n s e q u en c e s o f a w or l d g o i n g f r o m r ou n d t o f l a t ?
  • 26. 26 Thomas Friedman: “…the flattening of the world is going to be h u g e l y d i s r u p t i v e t o b ot h t r ad i t i o n a l a n d d e v e l o p e d s o c i et i e s . T h e w e a k wi l l f a l l f u r t h e r b e h i n d f a s t e r . T h e t r ad i t i o n a l w i ll f e e l t h e f o r c e o f m od e r n i z a t i o n m u c h m o r e pr o f o u n d l y . T h e n e w w i l l g et t u r n e d i n t o o l d q u i c k er . T h e d e v e l o p e d w i l l b e c h a l l en g e d b y t h e u n d e r d e v e l o p e d mu c h m or e pr o f o u n d l y . I w o r r y , b e c a u s e s o m u c h p o l i t i c a l s t a b i l i t y i s b u i lt o n ec o n o m i c s t a b i l i t y , a n d e c o n o m i c s t ab i l i t y i s n ot g o i n g t o b e a f e a t u r e o f t h e f l a t w o r ld . A d d i t a l l u p a n d y o u c a n s e e t h a t t h e d i s r u p t i o n s a n d g o i n g t o c o m e f a s t er a n d h ar d er . N o o n e i s i m m u n e ─ n ot m e , n o t y o u , n o t M i c r o s o f t . W e ar e en t er i n g a n e r a o f c r e at i v e d e s t r u c t i o n o n s t er o i d s . D e a l i n g w i t h f l at i s m i s g o i n g t o b e a c h al l e n g e o f a w h o l e n e w d i m e n s i on e v e n i f y o u r c o u n t r y h a s a s t r a t e g y . B u t i f y o u d o n ’ t h a v e a s t r a t e g y a t a l l , w e l l , a g a i n , y o u ’ v e w a r n ed … ” [ 1 3 9 ] W hy t h i s c h a n g e d c h a n g e i s u n pr e c e d e n t e d a n d d i f f e r e n t ? S a n F r a n c i s c o fu t u r i s t J a m e s C a n t o n o f f er s i n s i g h t . “ C I O I n s i g h t : I n T h e E x t r e m e Fu t u r e, y o u s a y t h e 2 1 s t c en t u r y i s g o i n g t o b e l i g h t n i n g - f a s t , c o m p l e x an d d r i v en b y d i s r u p t i v e changes. But a r en ' t we a lr e a d y in this extreme future? [RESPONDING THE QUESTION,] JAMES CANTON [INDICATES]: WE ARE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. BUT THE POINT OF MY BOOK IS THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET EVEN MORE DISRUPTIVE,
  • 27. 27 C O M P L E X A N D C O M P E T I T I V E ; T H I N G S A R E N O T G OI N G T O E A S E O F F , T H E Y ' R E A C T U A L L Y G OI N G T O A C C E L E R A T E . ” [ 1 3 8 ] W h a t a r e t h e o r g a n i c p r o p e rt i e s o f c h a n g e a n d i t s i m p a c t ? David Schlesinger, global managing director at Reuters, indicates: “ C h a n g e i s h ar d . C h an g e i s h ar d e s t o n t h o s e c au g h t b y s u r pr i s e . C h a n g e i s h ar d e s t o n t h o s e w h o h a v e d i f f i c u lt y c h a n g i n g t o o . B u t c h a n g e i s n a t u r a l ; c h an g e i s n ot n e w ; c h an g e i s i m p or t a n t . ” [ 1 3 9 ] T h e u n i v e r s e a n d t h e m o r r ow ? I sa a c A s i m o v : “ Hu m a n i t y h a s t h e s t a r s i n i t s fu t u r e , a n d t h at f u t u r e i s t o o i m p o r t an t t o b e l o s t u n d er t h e b u r d e n o f j u v e n i l e f o l l y a n d i gn o r a n t s u p er s t i t i o n . ” [ 1 4 1 ] Understanding the universe as we don’t think it is and as many people cannot align it with their belief system? D r . C a r l S a ga n , P h D : “ I t i s f a r b e t t er t o g r a s p t h e u n i v e r s e a s i t r e a l l y i s t h an t o p e r s i s t i n d e l u s i on , h o w e v e r s a t i s f y i n g a n d r e a s s u r i n g. ” [ 1 5 7 ] W h o s e r e a l i t i e s a n d m y t hs a r e t h o s e?
  • 28. 28 Voltaire (1694 – 1778), French writer and philosopher: “ E v e r y t h i n g ’ s f i n e t o d a y , t h a t i s ou r i l l u s i on . ” [ 1 5 7 ] Is anyone exaggerating about the dynamics of change? I a n P e a r s o n : “ B y m i d - c e n t u r y , c o m p u t e r s w i l l b e l i n k e d d i r ec t l y i n t o o u r n e r v o u s s y s t e m s v i a n an o t e c h n o l o g y , wh i c h i s s o s m a l l i t c o u l d c on n ec t e v e r y n e u r o n i n o u r b r a i n s . B y a b ou t 2 0 4 0, t h e r e w i l l b e a b a c k u p o f o u r b r ai n s i n a c o m p u t e r s o m e w h e r e , s o t h a t w h en y o u d i e i t w on ’ t b e a m a j o r c a r e e r p r o b l e m . ” [ 1 4 0] Q u e s t i o n : A l l e g e d l y , T o w h a t e x t e n t i s t h e w or l d c h a n g i n g and what are some of the c o n s e q u en c e s , sometimes infamously ignored? D r . S t e p h e n C o v e y : “ T h e w o r ld h a s pr o f o u n d l y c h a n g ed … T h e c h a l l e n g e s a n d c o m p l e x i t y w e f ac e i n o u r p e r s o n a l li v e s an d r e l a t i on s h i p s , i n o u r f a m i li e s , i n o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l li v e s , an d i n ou r o r g an i z a t i on s ar e o f a d i f f e r en t or d er o f m a g n i t u d e . I n f ac t , many mark 1989 ─ the year we witnessed the fall of the Berlin W al l ─ a s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e I n f o r m a t i o n A g e , t h e b i r t h o f a n e w r e a l i t y , a s e a c h an g e o f i n c r e d i b l e s i g n i fi c a n c e ─ t r u l y a n e w e r a ─ B e i n g e f f e c t i v e a s i n d i v i d u a l s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s i s n o l o n g er
  • 29. 29 m er e l y a n o p t i o n ─ s u r v i v a l i n t o d a y ’ s w o r l d r e q u i r e s i t . B u t i n o r d e r t o t h r i v e , i n n o v a t e , e x c el , a n d l e a d i n w h a t C o v e y c a l l s t h e n e w Kn o w l e d g e W o r k er A g e, w e m u s t b u i l d o n a n d m o v e b e y o n d e f f ec t i v en e s s [ l o n g - h e l d a s s u m p t i o n s , f a l l ac i e s a n d f l a w e d b e l i e f s a n d f au l t y c on v e n t i o n s ] … Ac c e s s i n g t h e h i g h e r le v e l s o f h u m a n g e n i u s a n d m o t i v a t i o n i n t o d a y ’ s n e w r e a li t y R E Q U I R E S A S E A C H A N G E I N T H I N K I N G : a n e w m i n d - s e t , a n e w s k i ll - s e t , a n e w t o o l - s e t ─ i n s h or t , a w h o l e n e w h a b i t . ” [ 1 5 3 ] B r i n g i n g d o w n a h a n d fu l o f m i l l e n a r y f a l l a c i e s i n t h e twentieth-one century? G re g o r y S . P a u l a n d E a r l C o x : “ Fr o m C on v e n t i on a l W i s d o m t o S h o c k i n g P r o b ab i l i t y . M a y b e s o m e d a y , s o o n er o r l at e r , t r u l y i n t e l l i g e n t m ac h i n e s w i l l b e b u i l t . Un t i l t h a t t i m e , s p e c u l at i o n w i l l ab o u n d . M u c h o f t h a t s p e c u l a t i o n i s b a s e d o n w h a t m i g h t b e c a l l e d ‘ C o n v en t i on a l W i sd o m , ’ t h e u n d e r l y i n g a s s u m p t i on s an d c o n v e n t i o n s w e c ol l e c t i v e l y s h a r e . W e c an l i s t s o m e o f t h e s e a s s u m p t i o n s a s f o l l o w s : T h e n e x t c en t u r y wi l l b e a n e x t en s i o n o f t h i s o n e , w i t h i n c r e a s i n g l y s m a r t e r m a c h i n e s b ei n g r u n b y p e o p l e a n d f o r p e o p l e … B e c au s e t h e h u m a n m i n d i s l i n k e d t o a s o u l , c yb e r n e t i c m a c h i n e s wi l l n e v er b e f u l l y s e l f - a w a r e l i k e w e a r e … I f i n t e l l i g e n t r o b o t s c an b e b u i l t , i t w i l l b e a l o n g t i m e b e f o r e t h e y c a n b e m a d e t o d o w h a t h u m a n s d o, a s w e l l a s h u m an s d o i t .
  • 30. 30 P e r h a p s c e n t u r i e s w i l l b e r e q u i r ed … E v e n a f t er i n t e l li g e n t r o b o t s a r e m a d e , mu l t i t u d e s o f h u m a n s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x i s t on e a r t h , a n d m a y b e e v e n i n s p a c e … Hu m a n m i n d s a n d p er s o n a l i d e n t i t i e s w i l l n e v e r b e ab l e t o m e r g e w i t h a n e l e c t r o m e c h a n i c a l s y s t e m … E v e n i f i t w e r e p o s s i b l e, w e h u m a n s w o u ld r e fu s e t o d o w n l o a d ou r m i n d s o n t o h ar d w a r e , n o m a t t e r h o w t e m pt i n g a n d i n t e l l i g e n t t h e n e w s u r r o u n d i n g s m i g h t b e . W e b e l i e v e t h a t c yb e r b e i n g s wi l l b e e m o t i o n l e s s , s o u l l e s s , a n d h u m o r l e s s m ec h a n i c a l z o m b i e s ─ r a t h er li k e ‘ S t ar T r e k ’ s ’ L t . C o m m a n d e r D a t a , a s o m e w h a t s a d a n d r o i d p i n i n g f or a h u m a n i t y h e w i l l n e v e r ac h i e v e … N o m a t t er h o w s m a r t t h e y ar e , d i g i t a l m i n d s w i l l n e v e r h a v e t h e i n s i g h t , i n t u i t i o n , a n d s m o o t h s a v v y o f t h e h u m an m i n d . T h e y w i l l f o r e v e r r e m a i n m e n t a l l y i n f e r i o r , a n d ou r f a i t h f u l , s e l f - m a i n t a i n i n g s e r v a n t s … T h e r ob o t s w i l l s o o n pr o v e o u r m e n t a l a n d ph y s i c a l s u p er i o r s . S e l f - g e n e r at e d en h a n c e m e n t s w i l l r e f i n e t h e m b e y o n d ou r c o n t r o l . T h e y wi l l en s l a v e u s a l l e x c e p t , o f c ou r s e , f o r a r e n e g a d e b an d o f r e b el l i o u s , y o u n g , g o o d - l o o k i n g, d a r i n g h u m a n s a r m ed with b a t t er e d , r ec y c l ed s u r pl u s weapons, fearlessly f o l l o w i n g t h e i r c r a g g y b u t wi s e l e ad e r i n t o a f i g h t f o r t r u t h , j u s t i c e , a n d t h e h o mi n i d w a y … T H I S B O O K A R G U E S T H AT T H E N E X T C E N T U R Y W I L L P R O V E T O B E N O T H I N G L I K E T HI S O N E , NOR ANY FORECAST SO FAR. C O M P U T I NG POWER, NEUROSCIENCE, AND NANOTECHNOLOGIES ARE ADVANCING SO RAPIDLY THAT THEY WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE THE
  • 31. 31 M OS T S I G N I F I C A N T E V O L U T I O N A R Y D E V E L O P M E N T S S I N C E T H E O R I G I N O F L I F E I T S E L F … W E M A I N T A I N T H AT T H E H U M A N M I N D A N D C O N S C I O US T H O U G HT A R E E X C L U S I V E L Y NATURAL AND PHYSICAL IN ORIGIN AND NATURE. ULTIMATELY, THEIR NATURES AND FUNDAMENTAL P R O C E S S E S A R E K N O W AB L E A N D C A N B E R E P L I C A T E D F O R THE PURPOSES OF PERSONAL IMMORTALITY.” [169] Pervasive genetics, pervasive medicine, pervasive diagnostics and pervasive monitoring? Juan Enriquez: “If it seems like your world has been topsy-turvy o v e r t h e p a s t f e w y e a r s … C o n s i d e r w h at ’ s c o m i n g . Y o u r g en e t i c c o d e w i l l b e i mp r i n t ed on an d I D c a r d … F o r b e t t er a n d w o r s e . M ed i c i n e s w i l l b e t a i l o r ed t o y o u r g e n e s an d w i l l h e l p pr e v e n t s p e c i f i c d i s e a s e s f o r w h i c h y o u m a y b e at r i s k . ( B u t … y o u r i n s u r a n c e c o m p an y a n d y o u r p r o s p e c t i v e e m pl o y e r m a y a l s o f i n d ou t t h at y o u a r e g e n et i c a l l y d i s p o s e d t o , s a y , h e a r t d i s e a s e , or b r e a s t c a n c e r , or A l z h ei m e r ’ s . ) . ” [ 1 6 3 ] W h a t e v e r t h e l e t h a l c o n s e q u en c e s , A r e y o u s t i l l do g g e d l y insisting on not u n d e rs t a n d i n g the r a t es of hy p e r - g e o m e t r i c a l e x p o n e n t i a l g r o w t h a n d h e n c e n ot h a v e a s e n s e
  • 32. 32 o f p r o p o r t i o n s i n a l i g n m e n t w i t h t h e dr i v i n g f o r c e s o f t h e twentieth-one century? J a m e s J o h n B e l l : “ W e w on ’ t j u s t e x p e r i e n c e 1 0 0 y e a r s o f p r o gr e s s i n t h e t w en t y - f i r s t c en t u r y ─ i t w i l l b e m or e l i k e 2 0 , 0 0 0 y e a r s o f progress.” [161] H o w c a n w e g e t t o a n ew t e rr a i n c o g n i t a w i t h a n o l d m a p ? R o w a n G i b s o n : “ T h e l e s s o n o f t h e l a s t t h r e e d ec a d e s i s t h a t n ob o d y c a n d r i v e t o t h e f u t u r e o n c r u i s e c on t r o l . ” [ 1 6 1 ] Where and how do we live? G re g o r y S . P a u l a n d E a r l C o x : “ W e li v e i n s t r a n g e t i m e s , i n c a s e y o u h a v e n o t n o t i c e d . H e r e w e a r e w i t h ou r h o m e c o m p u t e r s a n d o t h e r h i g h - t ec h a p p l i a n c e s , li v i n g wh a t w e r e g a r d a s a n o r m a l li f e … T h e w o r l d w e a r e l i v i n g i n ─ a w o r l d t h a t c o u p l e s H o m o li s a p i en s w i t h f a s t - p ac e d h y p e r t e c h n o l o g y ─ i s s t r a n g e t o u s b e c au s e s o m e t i m e s i t f e el s li k e w h at i t i s , a t r an s i e n t d r e a m … . W e a r e d r e a m i n g a s t r an g e , w a k i n g d r e a m ; a n i n e v i t a b l y b r i e f i n t er l u d e s a n d w i c h ed b e t w e en t h e l o n g a g e o f l o w - t e c h h u m a n i t y o n t h e o n e h an d , a n d t h e a g e o f h u m a n b ei n g s t r an s c e n d e d o n t h e other. We ar e living in the l a t t er days of humanity;
  • 33. 33 c yb e r t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l q u i c k l y r ep l a c e u s. J u s t i n c h e s o f t i m e a w a y e x i s t s a s p e ed y r e a l i t y b e a r i n g d o w n o n u s t h a t w e m a y s e n s e , b u t d o n o t s h o w o n o u r f a c e s …. W h i l e o n e m a y b e m a d e u n c o m f or t a b l e b y t h e t h ou g h t o f a t r u l y s t r an g e 2 1 s t c en t u r y , t h e r e i s a r o u n d u s a n i m p en d i n g s e n s e o f a r r i v a l ─ a s t r a n g e n e s s in the air, an uneasiness, a feeling that deep down, things are s t ar t i n g t o c h a n g e i n s w i ft , f u n d a m e n t a l w a y s t o o fu z z y t o p u t a f i n g e r o n . M o r e t h an j u s t t h e o n s e t o f t h e t h i r d mi l l e n n i u m, i t i s t h e q u i e t b e f or e t h e s t o r m . T h e pr o d u c t s o f t ec h n o l o g y ar e becoming more curious ─ a little too smart, a little too fast. It’s d o w n r i g h t u n s et t l i n g . A n d , h e y , p e o p l e a r e n ’ t d u mb . T h e y k n o w t h a t w e h a v e j u s t b e g u n t o b u i ld s m a r t d u mb m a c h i n e s ; s o o n i t w i l l b e d u m b s m a r t m a c h i n e s . W h er e w i l l i t s t o p ? I f w e c on t i n u e t o b u i l d m a c h i n e s s m a r t e r t h an t h e l a s t o n e s , a n d t h e n o n e t h a t i s s m a r t er t h an t h a t a n d s o o n ─ w e l l, y o u d o n ot h a v e t o b e a p ar t i c l e p h y s i c i st t o s e e t h at t h e m a c h i n e s c a n n o t k e e p g e t t i n g s m a r t er a n d s m a r t er , y e t f o r e v e r r e m a i n d u mb e r t h an u s . G ar r y ‘ J o h n H e n r y ’ K a s p a r o v , c h e s s G r an d M a s t e r , l o s t a c h a m pi o n s h i p game to a machine for the first time in history this year. Perhaps s o m e d a y , w e ’ l l h e ar t h e b at t l e c r y o f h u m an i t y r a l l y i n g i n d e s p e r a t i on : ‘ R e m e m b e r D e e p B l u e ’ … ” [ 1 6 5] Technologies, societies and possibilities?
  • 34. 34 Freeman Dyson: “There is nothing so big nor so crazy that one out o f a mi l l i o n t e c h n o l o g i c a l s o c i et i e s m a y n o t f e e l i t s e l f d r i v e n t o d o , p r o v i d e d i t i s p h y s i c a l l y p o s s i b l e. ” [ 1 7 4 ] D o es t h e p r o g r e s s i v e a n d a l w a y s - s u d d e n ( e x p l o s i v e l y s o ) advent of the future bring about adversaries of such future? If so, Are those the same ones that like to stay in rooms of stalemate air in which the status quo is invariably for the own sake and enjoyment of said those perpetually? V i r g i n i a P o s t r e l : “ T h at i n s t ab i l i t y [ b et w e e n s t a s i s a n d d y n a m i s m ] , o r o u r a w a r e n e s s o f i t , h ei g h t en e d b y t h e f l u i d i t y o f c on t e m p o r a r y li f e : b y t h e e a s e w i t h wh i c h i d e a s an d m e s s a g e s , g o o d s an d p e o p l e, c r o s s b or d er s ; b y t e c h n o l o g i e s t h a t s e e k t o su r p a s s t h e q u i c k n e s s o f t h e h u m a n m i n d a n d o v e r c o m e t h e c on s t r a i n t s o f t h e h u m a n b od y ; b y t h e ‘ u n i v e r s a l s o l v e n t s ’ o f c o m m e r c e a n d p o pu l a r culture; by the dissolution or r e f o r m at i o n of e s t a b l i s h ed i n s t i t u t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y l a r g e c or p o r a t i on s , an d t h e r i s e o f n e w ones; by the synthesis of East and W e st , of a n c i en t an d m o d er n ─b y t h e c o m b i n a t i o n a n d r ec o m b i n a t i o n o f s e e m i n g l y e v e r y a r t i f a c t o f h u m an c u lt u r e . O u r s i s a m a g n i f i c en t l y c r e a t i v e er a . B u t t h e c r e a t i v i t y p r o d u c e s c h an g e , an d t h at c h an g e a t t r ac t s en e m i e s , p h i l o s o p h i c a l a s w e l l a s s e l f - i n t e r e s t ed … W i t h s o m e e xc e p t i on s , t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e f u t u r e ai m t h e i r at t a c k s n ot at
  • 35. 35 c r e a t i v i t y i t s e l f b u t at t h e d y n a m i c pr o c e s s e s t h r ou g h w h i c h i t i s carried. In our post─Cold War era, for instance, free markets are recognized as powerful forces for social cultural, an d t e c h n o l o g i c a l c h an g e ─ l i b er a t i n g i n t h e e y e s o f s o m e , t h r e a t e n i n g t o o t h e r s . T h e s a m e i s t r u e f o r m a r k et s i n i d e a s : f o r fr e e s p e ec h a n d w o r l d wi d e c o m mu n i c a t i on ; f o r w h a t J o h n S t u a r t M i l l c a l l ed ‘ e x p e r i m e n t s i n l i v i n g ’ ; f o r s c i e n t i fi c r e s e a r c h , a r t i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n , a n d t ec h n o l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n . A l l o f t h e s e p r o c e s s e s a r e s h a p i n g an unknown, and unknowable, future. Some people look at such d i v e r s e , d ec e n t r a l i z ed , c h oi c e - d r i v e n s y s t e m s a n d r ej o i c e, e v e n w h en t h e y d o n ’ t l i k e p ar t i c u l a r c h o i c e s . O t h er r ec o i l . I n p u r s u i t o f s t ab i l i t y a n d c o n t r o l , t h e y s e e k t o e l i m i n a t e or c u r b t h e s e u n r u l y , t o o - c r e a t i v e f o r c e s … S t a s i st s a n d d y n a m i s t s a r e t h u s d i v i d e d n o t j u s t b y s i m p l e , s h o r t - t e r m p o l i c y i s s u e s b u t b y fu n d a m e n t a l d i s a g r e e m e n t s ab o u t t h e w a y t h e w o r l d w o r k s . T h e y c l a s h o v e r t h e n at u r e o f p r o g r e s s a n d o v e r i t s d e s i r a b i l i t y : D o e s i t r e q u i r e a p l an t o r e a c h a s p e c i f i e d g o a l ? O r i s i t a n u n b o u n d ed p r oc e s s o f e x p l o r at i o n a n d d i sc o v e r y ? D o e s t h e q u e s t f or i m pr o v e m e n t e x p r e s s d e s t r u c t i v e , n i h i li s t i c d i sc o n t e n t , o r t h e h i g h e s t h u m a n q u a l i t i e s ? D o e s p r o g r e s s d e p e n d o n p u r i t an i c a l r e p r e s s i o n o r a p l a y f u l s p i r i t ? … S t a s i s t s a n d d yn a m i s t s d i s a g r e e a b o u t t h e l i mi t s a n d u s e o f k n o w l ed g e . S t a s i s t s demand that knowledge be a r t i c u l at e d an d e a s i l y s h a r ed . D yn a m i s t s , b y c o n t r a s t , a p pr e c i a t e d i s p e r s e d , o f t e n t ac i t k n o w l e d g e . T h e y r ec o g n i z e t h e li m i t s o f
  • 36. 36 h u m a n m i n d s e v en a s t h e y c e l eb r a t e l e a r n i n g … T h o s e c on f l i c t s l e ad t o v e r y d i f f er e n t b e li e f s a b o u t g o o d i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d r u l e s : S t a s i s t s s e e k s p e c i f i c s t o g o v e r n e a c h n e w s i t u at i o n a n d k e e p t h i n g s u n d e r c o n t r o l . D yn a m i c i s t s w a n t t o l i mi t u n i v er s a l r u l e m a k i n g t o b r o a d l y a p p l i c a b l e a n d r a r e l y c h an g e d p r i n c i p l e s , within which people can create and test countless combinations. S t a s i s t s w an t t h ei r d et a i l ed r u l ed t o a p p l y t o e v e r y o n e ; d yn a m i s t s p r e f e r c o m p et i n g , n e s t e d r u l e s e t s … S u c h d i s a g r e e m e n t s h a v e p o l i t i c a l r a m i f i c at i o n s t h a t g o mu c h d e e p er t h an t h e s h o r t - t e r m b u s i n e s s o f c a m p a i g n s an d l e g i s l a t i o n . T h e y a f f e c t ou r g o v e r n i n g a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t h o w p o li t i c a l , ec o n o m i c , s o c i a l , i n t e l l ec t u a l , a n d c u l t u r a l s y s t e m s w o r k ; w h a t t h o s e s y s t e m s s h o u l d v a l u e; an d w h at t h e y m e an …. T h e s e ar e n o t t h e c o m f o r t ab l e o ld C o l d W a r d i v i s i o n s o f h a w k s an d d o v e s , e g a li t a r i a n s a n d i n d i v i d u a li s t s , l e f t a n d r i gh t . N o r a r e t h e y t h e o n e - d i m e n s i o n a l l a b el s o f t e c h n o p h i l e a n d t e c h n o p h o b e, o p t i mi s t a n d p e s s i m i s t , o r li b e r t a r i an a n d s t a s i s t t h a t p u n d i t s s o m e t i m e s g r a b t o r e p l a c e t h e o ld c at e g o r i e s . T h e y c o n t ai n e l e m e n t s o f t h o s e s i m p l e r c l a s s i f i c a t i on s , b u t t h e y a r e mu c h r i c h e r , e n c o m p a s s i n g m o r e a s p e c t s o f l i f e ─ m o r e a s p e c t s o f t h e e m er g e n t , c o m p l e x fu t u r e . ” [ 1 7 0 ] Minds vs. computational algorithms, man-made computational algorithms?
  • 37. 37 “ F u n n y t h i n g , ou r mi n d . T h e m o m e n t o u r s o f t w a r e c at c h e s u p , t h e m i n d s e e m s t o t r a v e l b e y o n d t h e c ap a b i li t y o f t h e s o f t w ar e … . [ H o w e v e r , ] O u r mi n d s f o c u s o n r e n d i t i o n s , d a r li n g , n ot t h e u n d e r l y i n g a l g o r i t h m . Y o u r an a l y s t s a n d pr o g r a m m e r s h a v e t o d e a l w i t h a l g o r i t h m t h a t pr o d u c e s n e w r en d i t i o n s . ” [ 1 6 1 ] D r . C o v e y ’ s l u c i d p e r s p e c t i v e b e c o m e s g r e a t l y s u p p o r t ed and refined by Peter Drucker. P e t e r D r u c k e r : “ I n a f e w h u n d r ed y e a r s , w h en t h e s t o r y o f o u r [ c u r r e n t ] t i m e i s w r i t t en fr o m a l o n g - t er m p er s p e c t i v e , i t i s l i k e l y t h a t t h e m o s t i m p o r t an t e v e n t t h o s e h i s t o r i a n s w i l l s e e i s n o t t e c h n o l o g y , n o t t h e I n t e r n et , n o t e - c o m m er c e [ n o t ‘ s o c i a l m e d i a ’ ─ s o - c a l l e d ] . I T I S A N U N P R E C E D E N T E D C H A N G E I N T H E H UM A N CONDITION. FOR THE FIRST TIME ─ LITERALLY ─ SUBSTANTIAL AND GROWING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY WILL HAVE TO MANAGE THEMSELVES. AND SOCIETY IS TOTALLY UNPREPARED FOR IT.” [153] A n d t h e p o l i t i c a l a n g l e o f t h e fu t u r e? T h e H o n o r a b l e T o m R i d g e , F i r s t S e c r e t a r y o f t h e U . S . De p a r t m e n t o f H o m e l a n d S e c u r i t y a n d F o r m e r G o v e r n o r o f P e n n s y l v a n ia : “ T h e
  • 38. 38 p o l i t i c a l w o r l d p r o mi s e s c h a n g e a n d t h e d i g i t a l w o r l d d e li v e r s i t . And wh e n that change potentially affects our privacy an d f r e e d o m , w e s h o u l d a l l p a y a t t en t i o n . T h i s i s a f a s c i n at i n g , p r o v o c a t i v e a n d t h o r o u g h l y r e ad a b l e l o o k i n t o a n u n c e r t ai n future.” [155] Internet and yesterday? S c o u t B ra d n e r : “ W e h a v e t h e I n t e r n e t t h a t w e h a v e t od a y b e c au s e t h e I n t er n et o f y e s t e r d a y d i d n ot f o c u s o n t h e t od a y o f y e s t e r d a y . ” [155] T h e r i g h t s a n d t h e fu t u r e? “Legal scholars can debate whether copyright law mandates a f u t u r e o f ‘ a u t h o r i z e d u s e o n l y ’ f o r d i g i t a l i n f or m a t i o n . T h e a n s w e r m a y n ot m a t t er m u c h , b ec a u s e t h at fu t u r e i s c o m i n g t o p a s s t h r ou g h t h e t ec h n o l o g i e s o f digital rights management an d t r u st e d s y s t e m s . ” [ 1 5 5 ] Future and forces embedded? “ T h e f o r c e s s h a p i n g y o u r fu t u r e a r e d i gi t a l , a n d y o u n e e d t o understand them.” [155]
  • 39. 39 Can we picture the future? “ C an w e e n v i s i on t h e f u t u r e t r a n s c o n t i n e n t a l f l i g h t s , w h e r e b o o k s , mu s i c , i m a g e s , a n d v i d e o s a r e au t o m a t i c a l l y e x t r a c t ed , s a m p l e d , m i x ed , a n d r e m i x e d ; f ed i n t o m a s s i v e a u t o m a t e d r e a s o n i n g en g i n e s ; a s s i m i l a t e d i n t o t h e c o r e s o f t w a r e o f e v e r y p e r s o n a l c o m p u t er a n d e v e r y c e l l p h on e ─ a n d t h o u s a n d s o f o t h er t h i n g s f o r w h i c h t h e w o r d s d o n ’t e v e n e x i s t y e t ? ” [ 1 5 5] History vs. future? “ W i l l t h e v a s t a m o u n t s o f i n f o r m a t i o n n o w a v a i l ab l e b ec a u s e o f t h e a d v a n c e s i n s t o r a g e a n d c o m mu n i c a t i o n t ec h n o l o g y a c t u a l l y b e u s a b l e a h u n d r ed o r a t h o u s a n d y e a r s i n t h e f u t u r e , o r W I L L THE SHIFT FROM PAPER TO DIGITAL MEDIA MEAN THE LOSS O F HI S T O R Y ? ” [ 1 5 5 ] R eg a r d i n g t h e C y b e r s p a c e , a p r i m e r t o C o m p u t r on i u m ? J o h n P e r r y B a r l o w : “ G o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e I n d u st r i a l W or l d , y o u r w e a r y g i a n t s o f f l e s h an d s t e e l , I c o m e fr o m C y b er s p a c e , t h e n e w h o m e o f M i n d . On b eh a l f o f t h e f u t u r e , I a s k y o u o f t h e p a s t t o l e a v e u s a l on e . Y o u h a v e n o s o s o v e r e i g n t y w h er e w e g a t h e r … .
  • 40. 40 W e a r e c r e at i n g a w or l d t h a t a l l m a y e n t er w i t h o u t p r i v i l e g e o r p r e j u d i c e a c c o r d e d b y r ac e , ec o n o m i c p o w e r , mi l i t ar y f o r c e, o r s t at i o n o f b i r t h . W e a r e c r e at i n g a w o r l d w h er e an y o n e , a n y w h e r e m a y e x p r e s s h i s or h e r b e li e f s , n o m a t t e r h o w s i n gu l a r , wi t h ou t f e a r o f b ei n g c o e r c e d i n t o s i l e n c e o r c o n f or m i t y … I n o u r w o r l d , a l l t h e s e n t i m en t s a n d e x p r e s s i o n s o f h u m a n i t y , f r o m d e b a s i n g t o the angelic, are parts of a seamless whole, the global c o n v e r s a t i on o f b i t s … . [ Y ] o u ar e t r yi n g t o w a r d o f f t h e v i r u s o f li b er t y b y er e c t i n g gu a r d p o s t s a t t h e fr o n t i e r s o f C y b er s p a c e . ” [155] C a n w e u s e a c h a i n t o r e p r e s en t a m e t a p h o r a b o u t t h e future? “You can’t u n d er s t a n d the knot w i t h ou t u n d e r s t an d i n g the s t r a n d s , b u t i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e st r a n d s n e ed n o t r e m a i n t i e d u p i n t h e s a m e w a y a s t h e y a r e t o d a y . ” [ 1 5 5] To get engaged in “a sea change in thinking,” along with the m a x i m u m a n d m o s t s o p h i s t i c a t e d c o n s c ie n t i o u s a wa r e n e s s s o m e v o i c e s m u s t b e i g n o r e d w h i l e pa y i n g i m m e n s e a t t e n t i o n t o o n e o f A m e r i c a ’ s f i n e s t , n a m e l y He n r y B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l e r . H e a r gu e s , “ A L L C H I L D R E N A R E B O R N G E N I US E S ; 9 , 9 9 9 O U T O F E V E R Y
  • 41. 41 10,000 ARE SWIFTLY, INADVERTENTLY DEGENIUNIZED BY G R OW N U P S . ” [ 1 5 3 ] T h e w o r l d i s n o t a n a l o g a n y m o r e . I t s qu a l i t y i s o n l y d i g i t a l a n d hence emphatically over-mathematical. Ergo, if you don’t attach t h e f u t u r e , t h e f u tu r e w i l l a t t a c k y ou a n d o u t s m a r t y o u w i t h o u t a fail. S u p p o r t i n g t h e m o t i o n s o f a l l o f t h e a b o v e i n t h i s d i g i t a l u n iv e r s e o f o u r s , c h e c k o u t t h e t a ke b y t h e a u t h o r o f “ T h e W o r l d i s F la t . ” T h o m a s F r i e d m a n i n d i c a t e s : “ P e o p l e a r e a l w a y s [ a n d w r o n g fu l l y ] a s s u m i n g t h at e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s g o i n g t o b e i n v e n t ed mu s t h a v e been invented already. But it hasn’t.” [139] I could easily offer, b a s e d o n u n i m p e a c h a b l e f a c t s , ma n y i n s t a n c e s o f w h y F r i e d m a n i s a b s o l u t e l y r i g h t t o t h e d i s m a y o f s o m e w i s h i n g b u t n o t s u f f ic i e n t l y enculturating themselves. W h a t h a p p e n s t o y o u r v i s i o n w h e n y o u do n ’ t u n d e r s t a n d that the world is not ana log but pervasively ─ increasingly so ─ over-digital? M u h a m a d Y u n u s : “ T h e r e e y e s w e r e b li n d e d b y t h e k n o w l e d g e t h e y h ad . ” [ 1 5 3 ]
  • 42. 42 Brainy discoveries and the IT revolution? J. G. Taylor, B. Horowitz, K. J. Friston: “Now, for the first time, w e a r e o b s e r v i n g t h e b r ai n a t w o r k i n a g l o b a l m a n n e r w i t h su c h c l a r i t y t h a t w e s h o u l d b e ab l e t o d i sc o v e r t h e o v e r a l l pr o g r a m s b e h i n d i t s m a g n i f i c en t p o w er s . ” [ 1 4 2 ] F r o m D a r w i n a n d w e l l i n t o t h e p r e s en t t w en t i e t h - o n e century? G re g o r y S . P a u l a n d E a r l C o x : “ W h en Q u e en V i c t o r i a w a s i n h er p r i m e , an E n g l i s h m a n , C h a r l e s D ar w i n , d i sc o v e r e d a f u n d a m e n t a l t r u t h t h a t s h o o k m a n k i n d s o s e v e r e l y t h at i t r e m a i n s t od a y a m a t t e r o f e x t r e m e d i st r e s s an d m a s s i v e d e n i a l. D ar w i n r e a l i z e d t h a t l i f e o n o u r p l a n e t i s n ot t h e r ec e n t a n d f i x e d pr o d u c t o f d ei t y - m ed i a t ed s p e c i a l c r e a t i o n , b u t h a s b e en c on s t a n t l y c h a n g i n g o v e r a long span of time … The paleontologist who followed Darwin h a v e t a u gh t u s t h at t i m e h a s n o r e s p e c t f o r s p e c i e s . W h o l e d yn a s t i e s o f l i f e h a v e b e en s w e p t a w a y a n d r e p l ac e d wi t h n e w o n e s . M or e t h a n 6 5 mi l l i o n y e a r s a g o , t h e w or l d w a s f i l l e d w i t h s w i f t , d e a d l y m e a t - e a t e r s , i n c lu d i n g h u g e t yr a n n o s a u r s s t a l k i n g elephant-sized h o r n ed dinosaurs and duck-billed herbivores. F l y i n g p t er o s a u r s w e r e a s b i g a n d h e a v y a s s a i l p l a n e s . S m a l l, g r ac e f u l , p r e d ac e o u s d i n o s a u r s h ad b i n o c u l a r v i s i o n , b i g b r ai n s ,
  • 43. 43 and grasping hands. After 17 0 mi l l i o n years of successful e v o l u t i o n , t h e y ac h i e v e d t h e h e i g h t o f v a r i at i o n a n d p o w er . R e s p l e n d e n t an d n u m e r o u s o n t h e f er t i l e Cr e t a c e ou s p l ai n s , h o w c o u l d i t b e t h a t w i t h i n a f e w y e a r s t h e y a l l w o u l d b e g on e f o r e v er ? T h i s c h i l l i n g s t or y s u g g e s t s a t i c k i n g c l oc k f or h u m a n i t y , as well; dare we think of our own extinction? There is ticking c l o c k f or h u m a n i t y , a n d i t m a y b e m er e s e c o n d s b e f o r e m i d n i g h t . T OM O R R O W I S U P O N U S , A N D W HA T I S AB O U T T O H A P P E N I N THE NEW DAY IS FAR, FAR STRANGER THAN MOST PEOPLE D A R E T O T H I N K … E v e n D ar w i n d i d n o t r e a l i z e h o w r i gh t h e w a s , o r h o w f a r e v o l u t i o n w i l l t a k e u s . W e s h ou l d n ot f au l t D a r wi n f o r h i s l ac k o f v i s i o n . D ar w i n li v e d i n a t i m e w h en t h e m o d e r n scientific revolution was just beginning. It was also a time of s t e a m en g i n e s , g a s l a m p s , a n d p h r e n o l o g y . S c i en c e , i n o u r l a t e 20th century sense, was still a few years away. Yet even today, f e w n o n s c i e n t i s t s h a v e m o r e t h a n an i n k l i n g o f h o w l i f e e v o l v e d o r h o w t ec h n o l o g i e s s u c h a s t h e au t o m o b i l e, t h e l i g h t s w i t c h , o r t h e a i r p l a n e ac t u a l l y w o r k … W E L I V E I N A HI G H - T E C H N O L O G Y WORLD, WITH LITTLE APPRECIATION FOR HOW THINGS GOT THE WAY THEY ARE.” [169] What is the personal cosmology in the orbit of a person seeking foresight?
  • 44. 44 Antonio Machado: “ M an , i n c u r ab l e futurist, is the only t r a d i t i on a l i s t an i m a l . ” [ 1 3 0 ] D o n ’ t w i n t h e i r “ h e a r t s ,” j u s t w i n t h e i r m i n ds k i n d l y a n d r es p e c t f u l l y ? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l ’ s a u t h o r in d i c a t e d : “I f y o u r e a l l y w a n t t o m a k e a n o p e r a t i o n a l d i f f e r en c e i n y o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l t h e at e r o f o p er a t i o n s , g o a n d g e t a fu l l i m m er s i o n i n the fringe. Right in their, under that tense an d pr e s s i n g d yn a m i c s , y o u ’ l l h a v e t h e v a n t a g e f l u x o f t h e ou t pu t t e d mi r a g e . ” [129] I just wonder: Is it about Scientific Method or is it about Scientific Method U n d er The Tutelage of Applied O mn i s c i e n c e a n d W it h T h e A p p l i c a t i o n o f T h e S y s t e m s Methodology Approach? I designed, to this effect, the i l lu s t r a t i o n viewable at http://bit.ly/d6d84w and also note http://slidesha.re/omisci The more scientific and technological knowledge doubling, the most indispensable becomes the grasping of the applied omniscience notion in every execution for Life.
  • 45. 45 A technological and academic institution outsmarting cutting-edge science and technology to a point to generate more wealth than the combination of many countries? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ W e a l t h i s c o n c e n t r a t ed a n d p or t a b l e. M I T f a c u l t y a n d a l u m n i p r o d u c e a s mu c h w e a l t h a s a l l b u t t w e n t y - t w o c o u n t r i e s i n t h e w or l d . ” [ 1 6 3 ] B e f o r e w e p r o c e e d a n y f u rt h e r , p l e a s e a l w a y s r e m e m b e r the following. “ E v e r y t h in g i s r el a t e d t o ev e r y t h i n g el s e . ” [ 1 0 9 ] . W h e n invoking “Everything is related to everything else,” it is succinctly to say (that is) by way of matter-of-fact example: “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er r e l at e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s c o n n ec t ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er c on n e c t e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “Everything is intricate to everything else.” “Everything is involved in everything else.” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - a s s o c i at e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er l o c k ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - c o u p l ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - j o i n ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ”
  • 46. 46 “Everything is conjoint to everything else.” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - t i ed t o e v er y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er d e p en d en t t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s c o r r e l at e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er t w i n e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - m e s h ed w i t h e v e r y t h i n g el s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i mp l i c at e d i n e v er y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s en t a n g l ed w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s en t w i n e d wi t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s t an g l e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s k n o t t ed w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er w o v e n i n t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s en g a g e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s p ar e n t h e t i c a l t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “Everything is related to everything else” does not make any sense a t a l l f o r pe o p l e w h o h a v e c h o s e n n o t t o g e t e d u c a t e d a n d s e l f - e du c a t e d o n i n d i s p e n s a b l e b a s i c s c ie n c e f o r E t e r n i t y . Einstein has an appropriate thought to share: “... [the h u m a n b e i n g ] e x p er i e n c e s h i m s e l f , h i s t h ou g h t s an d f e e l i n g s a s s o m e t h i n g s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e r e s t — a k i n d o f o p t i c a l d e lu s i o n o f ou r c o n sc i o u s n e s s . T h i s d e l u s i o n i s a k i n d o f pr i s o n f o r u s , r e s t r i c t i n g u s t o o u r p er s o n a l d e s i r e s a n d t o a f f e c t i o n f o r a f e w
  • 47. 47 p er s o n s n e a r e s t t o u s . O u r t a s k m u s t b e t o f r e e o u r s e l v e s f r o m t h i s p r i s o n b y w i d en i n g o u r c i r c l e o f c o m p a s s i o n t o e m b r ac e a l l li v i n g creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty...” [108] C O N T EN T S CONTENT BY THEME AND PAGE ( O n l y t h e d u l y b o u n d b o o k v e r s i o n s h a v e a p r e c i s e pa g e n u m b e r . However, the rest of the structure is as indicated.) CHAPTER 1 ─ NOTICE TO READERS ─ 10 ─ 14 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 1 ─ THE IMPERATIVE NOTE ─ 14 ─ 24 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 1 ─ OBJECTIVE ─ 24 ─ 64 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 1 ─ PROLOGUE ─ 64 ─ 99 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 2 ─ THE CHALLENGE ─ 98 ─ 109 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 2 ─ A N A C T U A L DI A L O G U E O F D A R W I N , K A N T , NEWTON, GOETHE ─ 99 ─ 112 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 2 ─ AN EPIC OMISSION(S)? ─ 113 ─ 115 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 2 ─ THE PEER-TO-PEER MESSAGE AM O N G IGNORAMUSES ─ 116 ─ 117 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 2 ─ C OM P L E X I T Y A N D T H E D E A T H O F S I M P L I C I T Y ─ 117 ─ 118 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 2 ─ TO BE OR NOT TO BE IN EXECUTION? ─ 118 — 119 PAG. (S)
  • 48. 48 CHAPTER 2 ─ THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION AND THE ABSENCE OF COHESIVE LANGUAGE? ─ 119 ─ 121 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 2 ─ BONAPARTE’S PROPHECIES ON HURRICANE KATRINA’ AND GULF OF MEXICO’S ─ 132 ─ 134 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 2 ─ STRATEGOS I N S T I T UT E ’ S FOUNDER AND L O N D O N B U S I N E S S S C H O O L ’ S P R O F E S S O R O N T H E F UT U R E ─ 125 ─ 128 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 3 ─ R O C K E T S C I E N C E AB O U T A C T U A L DI S CI P L I N E D S U C C E S S C A P T U R I N G ? ─ 1 2 8 ─ 1 3 1 P AG . ( S ) C H A P T E R 3 ─ I N T R O D U CT O R Y Q U O T A T I O N S – A N D W I T H COMMENTARIES – BY ENLIGHTENED MINDS! ─131 ─ 163 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 3 ─ THE F UT U R E AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL SINGULARITY AS PER RAY KURZWEIL, PH.D. ─ 165 ─ 167 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 3 ─ WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW? HOW MANY “NOWS” ARE THERE? ARE THOSE “NOWS” STILL RELEVANT? ─ 163 ─ 173 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 3 ─ M E T H O D FI R S T , T E C H N O L O G Y S E C O N D ! ─ 1 7 3 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 4 ─ DEEPENING OUR M U L T I DI M E N S I O N A L APPROACH IN AND TO THIS BOOK! ─ 174 ─ 222 PAG. (S)
  • 49. 49 CHAPTER 5 ─ RELEVANT COMMENTARIES TO CLARIFY HI D E O U S M I S U N D E R S T A N D I NG S (UNDER S YS T E M A T I C COMMISSION) BY MAGNIFICENT PEOPLE ─ 222 ─ 251 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 5 ─ “ O N P R E D I C T I O N S ” ─ 2 5 1 ─ 2 5 2 P AG . ( S ) CHAPTER 6 ─ D E M Y S T I F YI N G THE “REAL DEAL” IN PROFESSION, TECHNOLOGY, LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, S T R A T E G Y , A N D B U S I N E S S , A S W E L L AS ─ O F F E R I N G T H E CLEAREST BLUEPRINT! ─ 251 ─ 255 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 6 ─ QUESTION: WHAT DO RALPH WALDO EMERSON, JAMES D. WATSON, T H O M AS JEFFERSON, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, WINSTON CHURCHILL, ARTHUR C. CLARKE, BERNARD D'ESPAGNAT, A LB E R T EINSTEIN, CARL S AG A N , M A L C O L M S . K N O W L E S , B E R T R A N D R US S E L L , F R A N C I S B A C O N , H E N R Y K I S S I N G E R , OT T O H E R M A N K H A N , B U R R H U S F R E D E R I C S KI N N E R , A N D ─ 2 5 5 ─ 2 6 4 P A G . ( S ) CHAPTER 6 ─ CONCLUSION ─ 264 ─ 265 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 6 ─ Q U E S T I O N : A R E W E A D RI F T I N A S E A O F CONFUSION? CAN THE UNDERSIGNED OFFER A REASONABLE P A T HW A Y ? ─ 2 6 5 ─ 2 6 8 P A G . ( S ) CHAPTER 6 ─ GLOBAL SEISMIC SHIFTS BY DR. STEPHEN COVEY, PHD! CHAPTER 6 ─ THE TOP TRENDS FOR 2010 BY SAN FRANCISCO FUTURIST DR. JAMES CANTON, PH.D. ─ 268 ─ 274 PAG. (S)
  • 50. 50 C H A P T E R 6 ─ F O U RT E E N F U T U R E T R E N D S F O R B US I N E S S I N 2 0 0 9 A N D B E Y O N D B Y T H O M A S F R E Y , S E N I O R F UT U R I S T A T THE DAVINCI INSTITUTE C H A P T E R 6 ─ S I X P R O F O U N D S H I FT S B Y D R . S H O S T A K C H A P T E R 6 ─ T H E F UT U R E E N V I S I O N E D B Y A R E S E A R C H PHYSICIST AND SCIENTIST! C H A P T E R 6 ─ 2 0 1 1 T R E N D S B Y D R. J A M E S C A N T O N , P H . D . ( A S SEEN ON NOV 30, 2010) CHAPTER 6 ─ THE MESSAGE ─ 274 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 6 ─ ANSWERED QUESTIONS? ─ 274 ─ 275 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 7 ─ EPILOGUE ─ 275 ─ 280 PAG. (S) CHAPTER 7 ─ CAVEAT ─ 280 ─ 284 PAG. (S) C H A P T E R 7 ─ “ T H E H O P E ” ─ 2 8 4 ─ 2 8 5 P AG . ( S ) CHAPTER 7 ─ HOW TO COPE WITH CENTURY TWENTIETH ONE! ─ 289 ─ 290 CHAPTER 7 ─ WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF THINKING THAT JOINTLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY MUST BE EXERCISED TO FIRST GUESS THE FUTURE RIGHT IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM? ─ 291 ─ 304 CHAPTER 8 ─ REFLECTING ON THE EDUCATION WE IMMEDIATELY NEED ─ 305 ─ 316 CHAPTER 8 ─ APPENDIX OF DEFINITION OF APPLIED OMNISCIENCE ─ 316 ─ 322
  • 51. 51 C H A P T E R 8 ─ T H E M O S T T H O U G H T FU L S T A T E M E N T B Y A N Y A M E R I C A N P R E S I D E N T T O D AT E ! ─ 3 2 2 ─ 3 2 3 CHAPTER 8 ─ NASA LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER, THE OHIO AEROSPACE INSTITUTE, THE VISION-21 SYMPOSIUM AND SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY ─ 323 ─ 345 CHAPTER 8 ─ “THE FUTURIST” MAGAZINE'S TOP-10 FORECASTS FOR 2010 AND BEYOND PLUS MORE THAN 250 FORECASTS ─ 345 ─ 451 CHAPTER 8 ─ GLOSSARY ─ 451 ─ 459 CHAPTER 9 ─ WHAT I’VE GIVEN YOU! ─ 459 ─ 460 CHAPTER 9 ─ ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ─ 460 ─ 473 CONTACT C H A P T E R 9 ─ A D D I T I O N A L B I B L I O G R A P H Y F O R S UG G E S T E D READING ─ 473 ─ 475 C H A P T E R 9 ─ A B O U T T H E A UT H O R ─ 4 7 5 ─ 4 8 8 CHAPTER 1 NOTICE TO READERS! S o m e r e a d e r s m i g h t f i n d h e l pf u l t o h a v e “ h a n d y ” a n O x f o r d Dictionary, American Heritage Dictionary and even the Encyclopedia Britannica. There are explained entries such as: c r i n k u m - c r a n k u m , c r i s s - c r o s s , t e r z e t t o , t h é d an s a n t , t er t i u m q u i d , among others.
  • 52. 52 C a n a n y o n e r e m e m b e r t h e K i n g ’ s s e n t e n c e : “ A p er s o n ’ s w o r ld i s c o m m e n s u r at e t o t h e s i z e h i s ( h e r ) o w n v o c ab u l a r y . ” B y a n y m e a s u r e , y o u r t e c h n i c a l a n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l v oc a b u l a r y m o s t b e multiplied by a thousand-fold as you ke e p progressing it exponentially. S i n c e t h e r e h a s b e e n a g r e a t d e a l o f f u t i l e d e b a t e a b o u t t h e c ha n g e , its rate and scale, the undersigned has approached the subject m a t t e r t h r o u g h n a r r a t i v e i l lu s t r a t i o n s a t t i m e s . H e i s in d e e d serious and rigorous about understanding the dynamics and i m p l i c a t i o n s o f c h a n g e in t h i s f i r s t d e c a d e o f T we n t i e t h - O n e Century and onward. Accuracy and accuracy, too, are beyond sine qua no to the undersigned. Y o u ' l l c e r t a i n l y f i n d e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e O x f o r d D ic t i o n a r y a s h e b e l i e v e s t h a t y ou s h o u l d s u c c e s s f u l l y s e a r c h f o r t h e s a m e i n t h e A m e r i c a n He r i t a g e D i c t i o n a r y . S i n c e I h a v e n e v e r b e e n a le x i c o g r a p h e r a n d s i n c e I a m n o t outsourcing my linguistics capabilities to you and since I am not soliciting anything from you, it is only your sole duty and your sole duty alone to verify the root meaning of every term here contained. I w o u l d c ou n s e l t o a v o i d , a s s e m a n t i c s s u g g e s t , t h e i l lu s i o n o f
  • 53. 53 meaning, in a world mired of confusions. It suffices to me the f o r t u n e s t o b e , w i t h i n m y s t a n d a r d s , i n t h e g r e a t e s t c on t e x t s o f confusion. To my a dv a n ta g e , that allows me the sovereign o p p o r t u n i t y t o i m m e d i a t e l y t a c k l e t h e in d i s p e n s a b l e c ha l l e n g e a n d thus keeping my brain’s commutating blood streams lighter. This book has mostly to do with all forms of change and the impact s t e m m i n g f r o m s a i d i m p a c t . T o p ic s r e l a t e d t o s c ie n c e , t e c h n o l o g y , methodology, leadership, and management are all addressed. Given the abrupt rise of change, this is also a management book about how to mitigate, modulate and terminate hazards and risks, thus c a p tu r i n g the “upsides” of every professional or organizational endeavor. This book is multifaceted and generate insights and ideas so that the readers themselves can operate them from a mental framework and as per the perceptions of "real" and “virtual” realities. This is a b o o k o f m a n y f a c e t s w i t h m a n y a n d a m p l e n u a n c e s i n e a c h f a c e t. To the undersigned s u p e r f i c ia l i t y and especially universal s u pe r f i c i a l i t y i s p r e p o s t e r o u s t o h i s n a tu r e . S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e present exploration is profound and responsibly profound.
  • 54. 54 T h i s b o o k h a s m a n y f a c e t s , f r o m t h e b e g i n n in g t o t h e e n d b e a r i n g i n m i n d t h a t " e v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er r e l at e d wi t h e v er y t h i n g e l s e , " since 2010 now ─ in subtle and dramatic ways ─ there are many more tangible things, as well as immeasurable ones, which are serious and smoothly interwoven with many other things in most fluid modes. This multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach scrutinizes a method from a systemic, systematic, holistic and comprehensive w a y ─ f r o m t h e m i c r o l e v e l t h r o u g h t h e m a x i m u m m a c r o le v e l. This approach ascertains that this material will never be s u pe r f i c i a l . B o t h i n t h e m i c r o a n d m a c r o l e v e l s , m a n y d r a m a t i c a n d s u b t l e i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s in c r e a s i n g l y t a ke p l a c e a c r o s s t h e b o a r d . O n e o f t h i s b o o k ' s m o s t i m p o r t a n t p u r p o s e i s t o c o m m u n ic a t e t h a t what we call "change” also will continue to change and change without any previous precedence. It is also a book of management, leadership, risk management, technology, science and new ideas to m e e t t h e d e m a n d s a n d c ha l l e n g e s o f a n e w c e n t u r y m a r k e d b y h i s b r e a k w i t h t h e pa s t . A c h a n g e t h a t g i v e s l e a p s a n d b o u n d s e v e r y w e e k , w h i l e b a r e l y in t h e d e c a d e o f t h e n i n e t i e s , s o m e o f t h e s e c h a n g e s w e r e s e e n i n f iv e
  • 55. 55 o r t e n y e a r - t e r m pe r i o d s . I t g e n e r a t e s i n s i g h t s a n d i d e a s s o t h a t the readers themselves can operate from a mental framework as pe r t h e i r p e r c e i v i n g t h e p a t t e r n s w h i l e r e g i s t e r i n g o f t h e r e a l i t i e s o f " re a l " a n d v i r t u a l . P r e t er i t n o t i o n s t o s e c u r e b e i n g s t r a t e g i c a l l y de v a s t a t e d ? P e t e r D r u c k e r : “ T h e g r e a t e s t d an g e r i n t i m e s o f t u r b u l en c e i s n o t t h e t u r b u l e n c e; i t i s t o a c t w i t h y e s t e r d a y ’ s l o g i c . ” [ 1 4 6 ] If, indeed, this is a book about change and for many driving forces t h a t s h a p e a n d r e s h a p e o u r l iv e s . I t i s n o t , i n a n y c a s e , a m a t e r i a l o f p r e d i c t i o n , d i v i n a t i o n , f u tu r e - t e l l i n g o r g l e a n in g t h r o u g h c r y s t a l balls. While offering some "trends" and "predictions" ─ so called ─ by t h i r d pa r t i e s , t h e c e n t r a l i n t e r e s t i s t h e n o w a d a y s r e q u i r e d c r i t i c a l , c re a t i v e , t h i n k i n g , w i t h d e p t h a n d b r e a d t h , w i t h r i g o r a n d e v e n with f le x i b i l i t y , as change (and their projected trends a nd predictions) is updated in real time. What do Alvin and Heidi Toffler can tell us about the 2 02 5 ’ s o u t l o o k t hr o u g h T o f f l e r A s s o c i a t e s ’ a s s es s i n g ?
  • 56. 56 T of f l e r A s s o c i a t e s : “ Y e t t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d c h a l l en g e s d o n ot p au s e . The forces of change are in fact a c c e l e r at i n g as t e c h n o l o g y , c o m m u n i c at i o n s , an d m ob i l i t y l i n k u s i n a b l u r r i n g a n d b u z z i n g g l o b a l i z i n g w o r ld … . T h e i m a g e o f t h i s fu t u r e b ec a m e c l e a r e r w h en w e a n d 4 0 e x ec u t i v e s a n d t h ou g h t l e a d er s c l o s e l y examined five specific technology ar e a s an d e x p l or e d their i mp l i c at i o n s f o r s o c i e t y , b u si n e s s , a n d g o v e r n m e n t . W e e x a m i n e d b i o t ec h n o l o g y , c yb e r - t ec h n o l o g y , n a n o t ec h n o l o g y , ubiquitous s e n s i n g , a n d w i l d c a r d s fr o m s c i e n c e an d t ec h n o l o g y . We asked t h e t h ou g h t l e a d er s t o a p p l y t h ei r p r o j ec t i o n s i n f i v e c r o s s c u t t i n g a r e a s t o i d e n t i f y t h e k e y t e c h n o l o g y c o n v e r g en c e s t h a t w ou l d m o s t a f f ec t or d i sr u p t s o c i et y i n 2 0 2 5 : e c on o m y an d w e a lt h , en e r g y an d the en v i r o n m en t , h e a lt h and demographics, infrastructure, and governance …. We l e ar n ed that the technologies were changing in ways t h at m ad e t r ad i t i o n a l d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e en d i sc i p li n e s a n d a r e a s o f s c i e n c e d ec r e a s i n g l y relevant. B i ot e c h n o l o g i s t s r e g u l ar l y describe nano-scale developments. N a n o t e c h n o l o g i s t s a p p l y i n s i gh t s f r o m g en o m e s e q u e n c i n g . R e s e a r c h i s s p r e ad , e n h a n c e d , an d s t o l e n w i t h c y b er tools. Research will l e ad to carbon-free or c ar b o n - n eu t r a l t e c h n o l o g i e s t h at d i sr u p t i n d u st r i e s an d p o li c i e s . T h e b lu r r i n g o f boundaries b et w e e n s c i en c e s are creating convergences. B r e a k t h r o u gh s a c r o s s d i sc i p l i n e s ar e s t i m u l a t i n g a c c e l e r a t i n g i n s i g h t s an d a p p l i c at i o n s . ”
  • 57. 57 As concluding this important report, Toffler Associates a r g u e : “ K n o w l ed g e i s b e i n g c r e a t ed at su c h a r a t e t h a t m u c h o f w h at we know will soon be obsolete …. The technological d e v e l o p m e n t s m a t u r i n g b et w e e n n o w a n d 2 0 2 5 a n d t h e i n n o v a t i v e w a y s t h e y m a y b e a p p l i e d r e f l e c t an ac c e l er a t i on an d s h i f t t h a t c a n s e e m b ot h p r o m i s i n g an d c h al l e n g i n g t o d e c i s i o n m a k e r s . I n t h e I n d u s t r i a l A g e , d e v e l o p m e n t s i n s t e a m p o w er , c o mb u s t i o n en g i n e s , au t o m o b i l e s , a e r o s p a c e , an d t e l e p h on y s e e m ed s l o w t o m a t u r e – t h ei r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s p r e ad r e q u i r ed l a r g e i n d u s t r i a l infrastructures. I n t h e I n f or m a t i o n A g e , d e v e l o p m e n t s i n b i o, n an o , c y b er , a n d s e n s o r s a r e p o s s i b l e w i t h a s m a l l e r a n d m o r e d i f f e r en t i a t e d infrastructure, and they are occurring s i mu l t a n e ou s l y a r o u n d t h e g l o b e . G l o b a l i n f o r m a t i o n n e t w or k s a r e i n c r e a s i n g t h e p ac e o f t h i s t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n . T h i s d e e p e r , m o r e w i d e l y s p r e a d d e v e l o p m e n t o f k n o w l ed g e i s d i f f e r en t from our r ec e n t past and portends fu r t h e r c h an g e s … . T h e convergences of b i o, nano, c yb e r , sensors an d w i ld card t e c h n o l o g i e s a r e c au s i n g e v e n g r e a t er ac c e l er a t i on o f c h a n g e . But at the same time, knowledge is being created at such a rate t h a t m u c h o f wh a t w e k n o w ab o u t t h e s e t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d t h ei r a p p l i c a t i o n r a p i d l y b e c o m e s o b s o l e t e a s i t i s o v e r t a k en b y n e w e r d i s c o v e r i e s . O u r i n s t i t u t i on s w i l l b e c h a l l e n g e d t o r e s p o n d t o t h e c o m b i n a t i on o f t h e s e t e c h n o l o g i c a l c h an g e s an d t h e m a n y ot h e r
  • 58. 58 d r i v er s o f c h an g e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . W e e x p e c t m a n y s y s t e m s an d i n s t i t u t i o n s t o b e d e s y n c h r on i z e d b y t h e s e c h a n g e s an d e f f o r t s t o resynchronize them will add to the sense of disruption that many p e o p l e f e e l … . M a n y t h ou g h t l e a d er s w e w o r k ed wi t h i n t h i s e f f o r t are highly optimistic. N e a r l y a l l w h o c on t r i b u t ed t o t h e s e f i n d i n g s s e e t ec h n o l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t s a s pr o m i s i n g , a n d a s s t i m u l i f o r n e w o p p or t u n i t i e s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , s o m e c a u t i o n ed ab o u t v u l n e r a b i l i t i e s an d c a l l ed f o r l e a d e r s h i p a n d a c t i o n t o ad d r e s s t h e s e v u l n er a b i l i t i e s b e f o r e w e f e e l t h e i r i m p a c t . T h i s r e p o r t s e r v e s a s o n e i n p u t t o d e c i s i on m a k er s w h o c an a i d u s i n ad a p t i n g w i t h t h e c h an g e s a n d c r e at i n g o u r f u t u r e. ” [ 1 5 0] H o w d o e s a g l o b a l c o r p o r a t i o n s p e l l o u t c e n t u ry t w en t i e t h - one leadership to the world? J . W . M a r r i o t t , J r . , C h a i r m a n a n d C E O , M a r r i o t t I n te r n a t i o n a l , I n c . : “ G r e a t l e a d e r s k n o w a n d a p pr e c i a t e t h e v a l u e o f pe o p l e . T h e y d on ’ t j u st l i s t en t o t h e o p i n i o n s o f o t h er s , t h e y s e e k t h e m ou t . T h e y m a k e su r e e v e r y m e mb e r o f t h e i r t e a m h a s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o m a k e a m e a n i n g f u l, l a s t i n g c on t r i b u t i on . T h e y r e c o g n i z e t h at t h ei r m o s t i m p o r t a n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s a l e ad e r i s t o d e v e l o p t h e i r p e o p l e, gi v e t h e m r o o m t o g r o w a n d i n s p i r e t h e m t o r e a l i z e t h e i r f u l l p o t en t i a l . T h i s h a s l on g b e e n o u r ph i l o s o p h y
  • 59. 59 a t M ar r i ot t , w h er e w e b e l i e v e t h a t i f w e t a k e g r e a t c ar e o f ou r a s s o c i a t e s , t h e y w i l l t a k e c a r e o f ou r c u s t o m er s . ” [ 1 5 3] Becoming enculturated in mind preparedness by a supreme statesman! W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l : “ T o e v e r y m a n t h er e c o m e s i n h i s l i f e t i m e t h a t s p e c i a l m o m en t w h e n h e i s f i g u r a t i v e l y t a p p ed on t h e s h o u ld e r a n d o f f e r ed a c h a n c e t o d o a v e r y s p e c i a l t h i n g , u n i q u e t o h i m a n d f i t t ed t o h i s t a l e n t s . W h a t a t r a g ed y i f t h a t m o m e n t f i n d s h i m u n p r e p a r e d o r u n q u a l i f i ed f o r t h e w o r k w h i c h w o u ld b e h i s f i n e s t h ou r . ” T h e I n t e l l i g e n c e C o m m u n i t y on T r e n d s ? N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e C o u n c i l ( N I C) : “ I f y o u l i k e wh e r e e v e n t s s e e m t o b e h e a d ed , y o u m a y w a n t t o t a k e t i m e l y ac t i on t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r p o s i t i v e t r a j ec t or y . I f y o u d o n ot l i k e w h e r e t h e y appear to be going, you will have to develop and implement p o l i c i e s t o c h an g e t h e i r t r a j ec t or y . ” [ 1 4 4 ] A n d s t a y i n g m i n d f u l w h e r e h i g h l y s p e c ia l i z e d k n o w l e d g e i s t h e c o n s i s t e n t c o n v e r g e n c e o f m u l t i p l e s p e c ia l t i e s a n d s u b - s p e c ia l t i e s
  • 60. 60 practiced in a discipline that I call, define and implement as “applied omniscience.” At http://slidesha.re/omisci T h e a e s t h e t i c s o f t h i s ma t e r i a l y o u s h o u l d le a v e u n d e r t h e w a t c h o f t h e ta i l o r , s h o e m a k e r a n d s a d d l e r , a c c o r d i n g t o y o u r c on v e n i e n c e . Believe it or not, the complexity that plays this material is already quite high. Any additional and un-recommended simplification r u n s o n l y a t t h e r e a d e r ' s e x p e n s e in s o f a r a s t o o w n a d d e d d i s t o r t i o n s . S o m e e x pe n s e s e q u a t e t o a l i f e - t o - d e a t h l i a b i l i t y . T h e r o s y f a c t s a b ou t L i f e ? Alvin Toffler: “Change is not merely necessary to life ─ it is life.” [148] When I talk about serious complexities to be dealt with in practice and not via mental vacuous and futile abstractions, we must appeal t o a m u l t i t u d e o f t o o l s , b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h o s e o f " S c ie n c e s o f Complexity” (http://bit.ly/c14KAw). This is not about a marketing,’ sales' gimmick. Neither about a little “white” lie or "public relations"-stunt generation situation. I am not seeking neither likability nor dis-likability. I am not seeking approving or dis-proving. I am seeking ultimate truths to
  • 61. 61 instill to my own persona. I am not against too many things. One thing I a m r e a l l y a ga i n s t is “social engineering,” e s pe c i a l l y institutionalized social engineering. The author does not seek anything other than making notes for himself. This material is not in search of approval or acceptance, or popularity, or visibility, but the result of something the author has to do for someone other than himself. S o m e " ma r k e t e r s " u s e t h e W e b t o g i v e w i d e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f t h e s e ideas, not for the sake of the good intentions of the subject addressed by me and me and my own me. For them this book is a " w i l d - c a r d " t o h o n o r h i s s o m e t i m e s ─ a n d in s o m e c a s e s ─ i m p i o u s , over-leveraged "social-engineering profession." I 'v e o f f e r e d m y s e l f a s I u su a l l y d o i s a l w a y s a g o l d e n g u a r a n t e e . The first golden warranty is to apply the maximum rigor, using all my practical and empirical e x pe r i e n c e and theoretical. Independently of the c ha l l e n g i n g topics, the second golden guarantee by myself allows me to offer a high degree of accuracy, c ov e r i n g e v e r y n u a n c e p o s s i b l e . T h e r e a re f i v e t r e n d s i n m a n a g e m e n t a n d b u s i n e s s t o d a y . O n e i s t o k e e p t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e " le a d e r " a n d " l e a d e r s h i p . " M a n y a u t h o r s
  • 62. 62 a n d r e a d e r s b e l i e v e t h a t t h e w o r d " m a n a g e r " i s a pe j o r a t i v e t e r m t h a t e q u a t e s t o " s t a l e m a t e b u r e a u c r a t . " T he o t h e r f a s h i o n i s t h e " ma s t e r m i n d s t o pe r s o n a l h a p p i n e s s " ( i n d e e d ) a n d t h e s e a rc h a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e " s c ie n c e o f s u c c e s s . " You will not find the latter among readers "Industrial Engineers," w h o u n d e r s t a n d p la n s , r o a d - m a p s , b l u e p r i n t s , e tc . S o a s t o e x e c u t e ( d o ) a s p l a n n e d a n d w h a t w a s l e a r n e d du r i n g t h e p l a n n i n g t i m e . I t is stupid to think that " le a d e r s h i p " is separable from the " ma n a g e m e n t . " Another trend, in addition, is to insist that the "leader" and " ma n a g e r " m u s t h a v e " s o f t s k i l l s " a n d " e m o t i o n a l i n t e l l i g e n c e ” attributes as most important. There are many more important attributes starting with the creativity and analytical capacities. All they need is systematic and universal prudence and tact with integrity. Ha d B o n a p a r t e t o l d t h e m t o s t o p f i g h t i n g t h e s t u p i d i t y a ga i n s t science and mathematics, What would have them become? Leader s o b a d l y w a s B o n a p a r t e w h o pu t t h e w h o l e o f E u r o p e a n d R u s s i a u n d e r h i s f e e t t h r o u g h e n e r g e t i c s c ie n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e .
  • 63. 63 N o t pa r a d o x i c a l l y , B on a p a r t e mu c h s t r e s s e s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f three disciplines: (a) English, (b) Science, and (b) Mathematics. A n o t h e r t r e n d , m o r e t h a n o n e t h o u s a n d ye a r s , i s t o r e p e a t a million times ─ especially via the Web ─ a ton of lies assisted with b i t s o f r e la t i v e t r u t h s . A n d a l l t h i s c r e a t e s a c e l e s t i a l r o b e o f t h e s a c r e d t o f o l l o w e r s t o p a c k a n d f i n d s o m e k in d o f m o v e m e n t f o r t h e s a k e o f w h o i s a t t h e a pe x o f t h e p y r a m i d s . O n t h e a u t h o r s I l i k e a r e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s t h a t e x p la i n t h e o p p o s i t e a s p e c t s o r t h e i g n o r e d o n e s b y m e . I l i ke c o m p l e x a n d accomplished writers because the authors encourage me to exercise m i n d e x p a n s i o n , a s I t r y t o u n de r s t a n d t h e i r p o s i t i o n s . C l e a r l y , e v e r y o n e i s f re e t o r e a d e i t h e r s i m p l e t o n s o r N o b e l L a u r e a t e s . There are many, many people who consider themselves the "Alpha a n d O m e g a " o f a p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t ic e . A n d t h e y s a y t h e y d o n o t l i k e f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s . T h e y d o n o t l i ke h a v in g t o read new books. Less they like studying academic textbooks and highly specialized technical lecture. Not knowing either "A" (Alpha), or the "B" (Beta), these i n d i v i d u a l s i n s i s t t h e y w a n t t o c on q u e r , f o r e v e r , t h e " Z " ( O m e g a ) . They want big profits quickly without even understanding who is
  • 64. 64 M r . P e t e r D ru c k e r o r , s a y , F r e d e r i c k W in s l o w T a y l o r . Y o u c a n s o l v e s o m e pe r s o n a l p r o b l e m s w i t h " H o w - T o " b o o k s . B u t f o r l a r g e r i s s u e s o f p r o f e s s i o n , t h e r e a r e o c e a n s o f e x p e n s i v e l i t e r a tu r e t h a t take years to assimilate. W h o s u p p o r t s y ou l i k e s t o k n o w t h o r o u g h l y t h e p r o b l e m s ( i n m y case, those of my clients and mine) and then understanding the magnitude and the scale and nuances and begin to work earnestly in the solution of such problems, regardless of how simple or complicated the solution. We are all important. Everyone is valuable. Each one is unique. E v e r y o n e h a s a t t r i b u t e s , s k i l l s , d e x t e r i t i e s a n d t a le n t s . A l l d e s e r v e , if t h e y s o w i s h , t o r e a l i z e t h e m a x i m u m o f t h e i r m i n d s f o r t h e g o o d of themselves and of humanity. I wrote this book to please myself. I'm not looking to please or displease anybody except my own person. W h a t c a n w e g et i n r e t u rn ? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “ T h e r e a r e g r e at h a z a r d s b y N a t u r e . T h e r e a r e a l s o g r e at h a z a r d s t h a t ar e m a n - m a d e . T h e m a j or i t y o f t h e s e o n e s i m p ac t s N a t u r e
  • 65. 65 itself. T h r ou g h s c i en c e, t ec h n o l o g y and management (all c h a p t er s ) , t h e p r a c t i t i o n e r c a n t r an s f o r m d o w n s i d e s a n d u p s i d e s i n g r e a t er b e n e f i t s , r e g a r d l e s s i f h a z a r d s a r e pr e s e n t ed b y N a t u r e o r h u m an s . A s e e m i n g l y ' g o o d s a f e e x e c u t i o n ' c an b e c o m e e a s i l y c o m p o u n d i n t o a g r e a t er p e r i l ou s s i t u a t i o n . A l a c k o f ' o p t i mu m s a f e e x ec u t i o n ' c an b e c o m e e a s i l y c o m p o u n d i n t o a g r e a t er p er i l o u s s i t u at i o n . A s e e m i n g l y ' s u b - o pt i m u m s a f e e x ec u t i o n ' c a n b e c o m e e a s i l y c o m p ou n d i n t o a g r e a t er p er i l ou s s i t u a t i o n . T h e s e h a z a r d s c a n b e s u s t a i n a b l y t r an s f o r m e d i n t o b en e f i t s t h r o u g h t h e p er e n n i a l a p p l i c at i o n o f t h e m a x i m u m w i t h i n t h e o p t i m u m o f t h o r o u gh l y c o m p r eh e n s i v e r i s k m a n a g e m e n t . ” [ 1 2 9 ] W h en d o e s a R I S K ─ a s w e l l a s u n c on t r o l l e d f o r m o f downside change ─ stop being a risk? W h e n o n e o f t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s t a k e s p la c e : ( a ) W h e n i t i s m a n a g e d o p t i m a l l y , or ( b ) W h en i t u n l e a s h e s a L O S S or P O T E N T I A L DI S R U P T I O N c r y s t a l l i z ed The term “applied omniscience” (http://slidesha.re/omisci) is here d e f i n e d a s i t e m p i r i c a l l y u s e d b y t h e u n d e r s i g n e d . I t ’ s u se f u l t o recall and bear in mind that “omniscience” is widely used in all
  • 66. 66 sorts of publications (as well as in their operational settings) and endeavors by scholars, academics, researchers, scientists and N o b e l L a u r e a t e s . A s a p e r s o n o f le a r n i n g m o s t s o p h i s t i c a t e d literature is instrumental to this author. You can use this practical tool remembering, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste.” T h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e o m n i s c i e n c e pe r s p e c t i v e c a n b e r e v i s e d a t < < http://slidesha.re/omisci >> as well. You can also read it within the present material. B y t h e w a y , m a n y pe o p l e e r r o n e o u s l y t h i n k o f c o m p u t e r s w h e n e v e r they hear the word “system.” T o t h e r e a d e r s I h a v e a w o r d o f c a u t i o n . T h e p r e s e n t ma t e r i a l addresses increasing complexities, not seeking to be offensive to any mind, but engaged in a dogged search to shedding and hijacking understanding and marsh-able grasp of ever-daring problems. To succinctly attain the stated before, I will not shortcut the la n g u a g e . I w i l l u s e t h e la n g u a g e t h a t I c o n s i d e r a p p r o p r i a t e n o t t o make it “extremely accommodating” to some other audiences, since
  • 67. 67 this is a technical material and not a necessary “sitcom” for some o t h e r t i m e . T h o u g h I g r e a t l y a p p r e c ia t e C h u r c h i l l i a n h u m o r . S i n c e t o a g r e a t e x te n t t h e m a j o r i t y o f m y a c t iv i t i e s a r e r e l a t e d t o life-to-death risk management, I am used to be thorough and use most unambiguous language not because “one” might die, but even three-thousand people can die because of an act of negligence. P r o f e s s i o n a l f u tu r o l o g y w i t h t h e u t m o s t r i g o r a l l o w s y o u s e e “disruption potential” scenarios in advance both to learn, plan, p r e pa r e , a n d e x e c u t e . Never predicting, just f o r mu l a t i n g en d l e s s , savvy scenarios? D r . J a m e s A . O g i l v y , P h . D . : “ B ec a u s e t i m e i s r e a l , a n d t h e f u t u r e u n p r e d i c t ab l e , t h e c h a l l e n g e o f c a r v i n g a p a t h i n t o t h e fu t u r e c a l l s f o r a d i f f e r en t w a y o f t h i n k i n g t h an t h e o l d , m e c h an i c a l m et h o d s o f s t r a t e g i c p l a n n i n g . I n o r d e r t o a n t i c i p a t e w h o l l y n e w i n d u s t r i e s l i k e t h e p er s o n a l c o m pu t er i n d u st r y , i t ’ s n o t e n o u g h t o m a k e p r ed i c t i on s b a s ed on o ld a s s u m pt i o n s . Y o u n e ed t o i m a g i n e a l t e r n at i v e s c e n ar i o s b a s e d o n n e w a s s u m p t i o n s . Y ou n e ed t o i m a g i n e a l t e r n a t i v e s c e n ar i o s b a s e d on n e w a s s u m p t i o n s . T h o s e n e w a s s u m p t i o n s n e e d m o r e t h an n e w n u m b e r s . ” [ 1 6 2 ]
  • 68. 68 T h e g r o w t h o f o u r s o c i e t y ’ s b e n e f i t s a n d r i s k s a re b e y o n d h y p e r - geometrical, and — that is to say — exponentially non-linear and c ou l d c a r e le s s a b o u t d i s r u p t i n g a n y f o s s i l i z e d b o n d w i t h t h e preterit “PAST.” Subsequently, not in second nature but in quintessential first nature, I don’t know how to discern, industry in a n d p o n d e r i n g w i t h o u t i n c r e d i b l e n u a n c e ( “ in c r e d i b l e ” a s pe r o t h e r prominent colleagues). C a n o n e m a k e t e c h n o l o g i c a l g r o wt h f o r g o o d ? Gordon E. Moore: “No exponential is forever … but we can delay ‘ f o r e v e r ’ … ” [ 1 4 2] G i v e o n e a n “ e l s e’ s ” h i n t t o p e r i p h e r a l t h i n k i n g ! T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “De-realize of thus de-focus from that taken-for-granted realities o f f o l l y , l i t er a l l y ! ” [ 1 2 9 ] H o w e v e r , i f y ou b e a r w i t h t h i s w o r k ( n o t w i t h t h e u n d e r s i g n e d ) , y o u ’ l l s e e t h e s e q u e n t i a l l o g i c . C l e a r l y , t h e r e i s a n a f f lu e n t interplay of sequential logics with most diverse tempos, timings, life cycles. All of the prior requires of the most rigorous, with tons
  • 69. 69 of vigor, of systemic, systematic, holistic, gestalt, womb-to-tomb t h i n k i n g . T h i s i s s o i f w e w i s h t o m a ke a d i a g n o s t i c w i t h t h e r i g h t p r e s c r i p t i o n f o r s o l v i n g i n pa r a l l e l a p l e t h o r a o f c o m p l i c a t e d problems. You solve problems to generate opportunities and benefits. Unreal impregnability in your operative context? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “ M o s t l y i n - s o u r c e y o u r m i n d w i t h l o n g - u n k n o wn v i r t u a l i t i e s . ” [129] I f o r e wa r n t h e r e a d e r t h a t t h e r e i s h e r e a la r g e m a g n i t u d e o f diverse issues addressed. If the reader is really engaged, she and h e s h a l l f i n d t h e l i n k a g e a m o n g t h e s e m a n y m a t t e r s o f in t e r e s t . I a m s o r r y t o s a y t h a t , s e e k in g a n d m e a n i n g w e l l , t h e r e a r e n o d i s c o n n e c t s . “ E v e r y t h i n g i s r e l a t e d t o e v e r y t h i n g el s e . ” I f t h e r e a d e r f i n d s t e r m i n o l o g y i n c o n v e n ie n t , t h e u n de r s i g n e d suggests for her or him to decide whether to go forward with reading or not. I hope I have given both you and myself some way of thinking and pe r c e i v i n g h o w t h o u g h t i s b r o u g h t i n t o a c t i o n a n d e x e c u t i o n .
  • 70. 70 U n l e s s o t h e r w i s e u t t e r l y i n d i c a t e d , t r a n s l a t i o n s a r e p e rf o r m e d b y t h e u n de r s i g n e d . CHAPTER 1 T H E I M P E R A T I V E N O T A B EN E Through this work, terms widely used such as “knowledge,” “ s c i e n c e , ” a n d “ l e a r n i n g ” — a m o n g o t h e r s d i r e c t l y o r in d i r e c t l y inferring and/or connoting knowledge acquisition — are solely c o n s i d e r e d o n l y i n r e g a r d s t o p r a c t i c a l a p p l ic a t i o n a n d a m p l e execution. E v e r y r e f l e c t i n g o r p o n d e r i n g , i n m y c a s e , mu s t b e c o n d u c i v e t o smarter actions. Smarter executions require much more wisdom. A n d w i s d o m i s n o t h i n g e l s e t h a n o r g a n i z e d kn o w l e d g e . Ergo, lack of knowledge and ignorance will bring about the o p p o s i t e t o s m a r t e x e c u t i o n s , b u t in f a c t e m p h a s i z e d i s h a r m o n y , imprudence and peace disruption. IN NO WAY T HI S A BATTLEFIELD CONTEXT! T o k e e p f oc u s i n o r d e r I w i l l b e r e m i n d i n g m e a n d y o u t h a t t h e breadth and scale of the present work is, to say the least,
  • 71. 71 m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y a n d c r o s s - f u n c t i o n a l , s e e k i n g t h e f lu i d i m a g e o f the interactive, intrepid whole with lucidity. I will be reminding you that “everything is related to everything e l s e , ” i n c l u d i n g d i v e r s e n o t i o n s in t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l y o u ’ r e n o w r e a d i n g . I n o r d e r t o u n de r s t a n d we l l a s c ie n t i s t , a t e c h n o l o g i s t , a l e a d e r , a m a n a g e r , a n e n t r e p r e n e u r i n t h e T w e n t i e t h - O n e Ce n t u r y , you will always need to understand the connections that are apparent and above all those that are systemically ignored, as well as those hidden. I n o u r c a s e a n d b e c a u s e o f t h e le v e l o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c p r o g r e s s i o n — a n d a l s o d u e t o s o m e c ha l l e n g e s b r o u g h t a b o u t b y N a t u r e — , t h e r e i s a d i f f ic u l t e x e r c i s e t o b e l e a r n e d i m m e d i a t e l y and easily: We cannot keep on using the “linear” intuitiveness of those in love with folly. Ipso facto, we must only use in conjunction: Non-linear i n tu i t i v e n e s s a n d n o n - l i n e a r c ou n t e r - in t u i t i v e n e s s . I f t h i s i s n o t f o l l o w e d t h r o u g h t o t h e l a s t c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d u l t i m a t e e x h a le , i n vain everything would have been thrown in a futility sack while letting open a multitude of Pandora boxes.
  • 72. 72 Y o u c a n n o t b e , b y e x a m p l e , t h e “ l e a d e r ” o f a h i g h - t e c h c o m p a n y in genomic or artificial intelligence and “get by” successfully just by h a v i n g t o n s o f pe o p l e ’ s s k i l l s . Y E S , Y O U W I L L N E E D T H OS E B U T Y O U W I L L A L S O N E E D T H E S C I E N T I FI C A N D T E C H N O L O G I C A L F U N D A M E N T A L S I N P L A C E FI R S T . F I RS T T H I N G S , FI R S T ! Like it or not, the world is ruthlessly governed by applied mathematics and will become even more so as time elapses without a fail. At staggering rate the world is set in motion from analog ( l i n e a r ) t o d i g i t a l ( ma s s i v e l y n o n - l i n e a r ) . The clever problem-solving pathway? E l i e z e r S . Y u d k o w s k y : “ O u r s o l e r e s p o n s i b i li t y i s t o p r od u c e s o m e t h i n g s m a r t er t h a n w e ar e ; a n y pr o b l e m s b e y o n d t h a t ar e n ot o u r s t o s o l v e . . [ T ] h e r e a r e n ot h ar d pr o b l e m s , o n l y pr o b l e m s t h a t a r e h a r d t o a c e r t a i n l e v e l o f i n t e l li g e n c e. M o v e t h e b i t u p w a r d s [ i n l e v e l o f i n t e l li g e n c e] , a n d s o m e p r o b l e m s w i l l s u d d en l y m o v e f r o m ‘ i m p o s s i b l e ’ t o ‘ o b v i o u s . ’ M o v e a s u b s t an t i a l d e g r e e u p w a r d s , a n d a l l o f t h e m w i l l b e c o m e ob v i o u s . ” [ 1 4 2 ] From transgenic crops into vital vaccines?
  • 73. 73 Juan Enriquez: “The skin and pulp of the orange that sits on your d e s k … I s j u st p ac k i n g … W h at m a t t er s i s t h e c o d e c on t a i n e d i n t h e s e e d s . E a c h s e e d h a s a l on g s t r i n g o f g e n e d a t a t h at l o o k s l i k e … T h e s e ed g u i d e s g r o w t h , h o w a t r e e an d i t s l e a v e s d e v e l o p … T h e s i z e , f l a v o r , c o l o r , s h a p e o f fr u i t s . I f y o u c a n r e ad t h e c od e … A n d r e wr i t e i t … Y ou c a n t u r n an or a n g e i n t o a v a c c i n e , a c o n t r a c e p t i v e , a p o l y e s t e r . E a c h o f t h e s e t h i n g s h a s a l r e ad y b e e n d o n e i n c o r n . T od a y , b a n an a s an d p ot a t o e s c a n v a c c i n a t e y o u a g a i n st t h i n g s l i k e c h o l er a , h e p at i t i s , [ an d ] d i a r r h e a . Y o u c a n h ar v e s t b u l l et p r o o f f i b e r s … G r o w m e d i c i n e s i n t o b ac c o . A n d i t ’ s n ot j u s t a p p l e s , o r a n g e s , a n d c o r n t h a t a r e r a pi d l y b ec o m i n g d i f f e r en t o r g a n i s m s … . M o s q u i t o e s a r e f l y i n g h y p o d e r mi c n e ed l e s . T h e y c a n i n f e c t y o u w i t h m a l a r i a , d en g u e , a n d o t h er a w fu l t h i n g s . T h e y d o s o b y t r an s f e r r i n g a l i t t l e b i t o f g e n e t i c c od e t h r o u g h their saliva … Into your bloodstream … Which then reprograms p ar t o f t h e w a y y o u r c e l l s o p e r at e … B y c h a n g i n g y o u r g en e t i c c o d e e v e r s o s l i g h t l y … I n w a y s t h a t c an m a k e y o u v e r y s i c k . S o w h y n o t en g i n e er m o s q u i t o g e n e s s o t h at t h e y h a v e t h e o p p o s i t e e f f ec t ? I f m o s q u i t o s a l i v a c o n t a i n ed a n t i b o d i e s …. O r i f y o u m a d e i t h ar d f or m a l a r i a t o m u t a t e i n s i d e a m o s q u i t o ’ s b o d y … Y o u c o u l d i m m u n i z e p e o p l e a n d a n i m a l s … B y m a k i n g su r e t h e y w e r e b i t t e n . B ec a u s e t h e l a n gu a g e o f g e n e s ( A, T , C , G ) i s t h e s a m e f or a l l c r e a t u r e s … Y o u c an m i x s p ec i e s . I f y o u a r e a n a r t i s t , t h e g e n e s t h a t m a k e j e l l y f i s h f lu o r e s c e at n i g h t … C a n b e u s ed t o m a k e
  • 74. 74 a b u n n y g l o w u n d er b l a c k li g h t . I f y o u a r e a n M . D . , t h e s a m e g e n e s c an b e p l a c ed i n m o n k e y s t o s e r v e a s m a r k er s … W h i c h h e l p i d e n t i f y c u r e s f or d i s e a s e s l i k e A l z h e i m er ’ s a n d c an c er . ” [ 1 6 3 ] A n d e v e n i f y o u r b u s i n e s s e n t e r p r i s e i s “ l o w t e c h , ” s o o n e r o r la t e r y o u w i l l b e i n f lu e n c e d — b e y o n d u n h e a r d - o f b e l i e f — u n d e r t h e c o m p e t i t i o n o f a h i g h - t e c h r i v a l. I t d o e s n ’ t m a t t e r w h a t y o u d o f o r business, profession or organizations ( i n c lu d i n g NGO and supranational entities), you must have a depth understanding of the driving forces that are shaping and re-shaping it all pe r p e t u a l l y . Therefore, and given that “everything is related to everything else,” through this work the reader will need to connect the dotted l i n k s ( a s w e l l a s i n t e rf a c e a p l e t h o r a o f c o n t e x t s ) b e t w e e n o n e pa r a g r a p h a n d a n o t h e r , b e t w e e n o n e s e c t i o n a n d a n o t h e r , b e t w e e n o n e n o t i o n a n d a n o t h e r . I f y ou u l t i m a t e l y d o , y o u ’ l l h a v e a n immense vantage position of knowledge, a wa r e n e s s , and u n d e r s t a n d i n g . F o r y o u r s a ke , g u s t o a n d c o n v e n ie n c e , t h e r e a d e r m i g h t c on s i d e r h a v i n g a p a d n o t e o r n o t e b o o k t o m a k e s o m e annotations. It doesn’t matter at all the order or the priority of the concurrent a dv e n t o f f a c t o r s ( s u c h a s s y s t e m i c r i s k s , g l o b a l c l i m a t e c r i s i s ,
  • 75. 75 g l o b a l e c o n o m i c a n d f i n a n c ia l c r i s i s , n e w d e m o g r a p h i c s , n e w c ha l l e n g e s , new opportunities, great hurdles yet la r g e opportunities to be conquered), the beginning of the Third M i l le n n i u m ( a s o f t h e f i r s t d e c a d e o f s a i d M i l l e n n iu m ) i s a N E W P L A C E A N D H E N C E Y O U C A N N O T G ET T O A N E W P L A C E W I T H AN OLD MAP. The “place” — here alluded metaphorically — is c ha n g i n g d r a m a t i c a l l y a n d w i t h s u b t l e t y i n “ r e a l t i m e ” in a 2 4 / 7 / 3 6 5 f ra m e w o r k . Given the fact that an old map is an ugly device to glitch your success, What sort of wisdom we must embrace? Let’s s e e . S o l o m o n : “ W h e r e t h er e i s n o v i s i o n , t h e p e o p l e p e r i s h . ” [ 1 3 0] I n s p e a k i n g o f s e n s e o f d i r e c t i o n , F r a n k K a f k a a r g u e s : “ T h er e a r e s o m e t h i n g s o n e c a n o n l y a c h i e v e b y a d e l i b e r a t e le a p i n t h e opposite direction. One has to go abroad in order to find the home one has lost.” [126] For example, with the aim to illustrate and facilitate general u n d e r s t a n d i n g , w e c a n s a y t h a t b a d t e c h n o l o g i c a l c ha n g e a n d g o o d technological change are now stressing commonalities. In line with this premise, yet again the same “GOOD” technological change — in order to give an example — could “help” you transfer new hazards and risks into the work environment and markets (as well
  • 76. 76 as industries), very much to your own detrimental. Again, it does no matter AT ALL if your company or enterprise is a c u te l y l o w - t e c h o r n o t , s i n c e y o u r “ s u r r o u n d i n g s ” a r e o n l y i n t o HI G H - T E C H , l i t e r a l l y ( s i c ) . I ma g i n e y o u ' r e a n a r c h i t e c t a n d y o u u se p e n c i l s t o d r a w s o m e preliminary sketches. And someone says that such an accomplished a rc h i t e c t is c re a t i v e , innovative, and proactive in s e e k in g innovative solutions. Can we get a hindsight in reversal, please, now? Walter Adolf Gropius (1883 – 1969): “Let’s wish, let’s imagine, l et ’ s b u i l d t o g e t h er t h e n e w c o n s t r u c t i on o f t h e f u t u r e . ” [ 1 3 0] B u t t h i s a rc h i t e c t h a s n e v e r u n d e r s t o o d t h e g r e a t c o m p l e x i t y t h a t exists underlying the major manufacturing processes of, say, a single pencil, noting that the “pencil” in question is the tool that h e l p s y o u r e a l i ze y o u r i d e a s i n m o r e s p e c if i c a n d t a n g i b l e w a y . I t i s c l e a r n o w t h a t t h e a rc h i t e c t h a s ( b y h i s o w n c o g n i z a n t d e s i r e of his own s e lf ) graciously and effectively accessed to an e n t r e n c h e d “ b l i n d s p o t ” in t h e o p e r a t i o n o f h i s m i n d a n d s a i d
  • 77. 77 mind’s stemming processes to achieve the crystallization of the targeted discerned innovation. In other words, everything is always connected to everything else i n a le v e l, a s i n d i c a t e d a n d t e r m e d b y s c ie n t i s t s a n d t e c h n o l o g i s t s , “discreet.” In the mean times, authors and consultants tell their f o l k s : “ C on n e c t e v e r y t h i n g wi t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e [ e v e n f u r t h er s o and in more obvious, fl u i d modes ad infinitum].” [109] A d d i t i o n a l l y , n o w — i n t h i s a ge o f h u g e d e m a n d s a n d c ha l l e n g e s — you have to have two, three or four professional specialized expertises. Y o u c a n e v e n b e a g r e a t s u b - s p e c i a l i s t . B u t y o u d o n ’ t g e t i t ye t ( se e m i n g l y ) t h a t t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s a r e a l o n g t h e l i n e s o f : “Expert generalists.” I n a d d i t i o n , t h e s e t i m e s o f g r e a t a n d f lu i d c h a n g e s r e q u i r e t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s a n d c h a l le n g e s a re l o o k e d t h r o u g h m o s t r i g o r o u s h o l i s t i c thinking, seeing and operating AHEAD the executions of the broader perspective within all cross-functional insight-fullness. It doesn’t matter if you have a kiosk selling newspapers, m a g a z i n e s , i n d u s t r y n e w s l e t t e r s a n d e v e n s e l f - h e l p b o o k s . Y e s , ye s ,
  • 78. 78 yes, you can insist that the core activity of your business is r i d i c u l o u s l y s i m p l e a n d e a s y , y e t lu c r a t i v e ( t h a t i s , s u s t a i n a b l y lu c r a t i v e ) . B y s t a t i n g t h e a b o v e n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , y ou a re w r o n g l y a s s u m i n g that everything that surrounds your business (fiscal, tax environment, competition environment, emerging technology e n v i r o n m e n t , l e g a l a n d r e g u l a t o r y e n v i r o n m e n t ) i s f ix e d , v e r y simple and will never change not even one iota. Accordingly, the artisan has to learn from classical physicists. The musician must learn from neuroscientists. The biologist will have to learn qu a n t u m m e c h a n ic s . T he expert in in f o r m a t i o n technologies will also have to learn from psychologists. The seller will have to learn finance and manufacturing processes. T h e r o c k e t s c i e n t i s t m u s t l e a r n o f s o c i a l s y s t e m s ( i n c lu d i n g entomology). T he sociologist will have to le a r n of applied mathematics and the “trade” of “optical physics.” Success via being we l l - i n f o r m e d and even-though information is not knowledge?
  • 79. 79 Peter L. Bernstein: “The information you have is not the i n f o r m a t i o n y o u w an t . T h e i n f o r m at i o n y o u w a n t i s n o t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d . T h e i n f o r m a t i on y o u n e ed i s n o t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u c a n ob t a i n . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u c a n ob t a i n c o s t s m o r e t h an y o u w a n t t o p a y . ” [ 1 2 7 ] The undersigned and the present m a t e r ia l ’ s author argue pe r t a i n i n g t o t h e t h o u g h t b y B e r n s t e i n a b o v e : “G o o d p o i n t , M r . B e r n s t e i n , I a g r e e an d l i k e t o o f f e r m y v i e w. T h e r e i s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t on l y e a c h on e h a s . T h e n t h er e i s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t o n e o f u s wi t h s o m e o n e el s e c an j o i n t l y h a v e a n d g e n er a t e . S u b s eq u e n t l y , t h e s m a r t er , t h e w i s e r a n d m o r e s e a s o n e d t h e i n c u m b en c y — wi t h l a s e r - b e a m e y e s gr a b b i n g fu t u r e s b a s ed o n m o s t a m p l e h i s t o r i c p e r s p ec t i v e a n d c o m p r e h en s i v e , r e v i s i o n i st , a p p l i e d n ot i o n s , t h e mu c h b e t t er . T h e n w h a t y o u m e n t i o n o n ' T h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u c a n ob t a i n c o s t s m or e t h an y o u w a n t t o p a y ' m a y n ot c o m e t o u s i n e x p en s i v e l y , b u t o n c e t h e d r a s t i c a n d d r a m a t i c A r t i f i c i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e ' s e t s i n ' i t w i l l h a p p en s e v e r a l t h i n g s : ( a) t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l b ec o m e a l w a y s i r r e l e v a n t an d o b s o l e t e b y z i l l i o n or d er s o f m a g n i t u d e, ( b ) e v e n i f e xi s t e d , s a i d i n f o r m a t i o n would be useless, and (c ) the information in question will become u n d e r t h e u l t i m a t e l y r o gu i s h c on t r o l o f s o m e t h i n g a l o n g t h e li n e s o f a r o b o - S a p i en s . ” [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 80. 80 The university professor will have to learn from the kindergarten students. The medical doctor will have to learn from the nurses a n d pa r a m e d i c s . T h e n u r s e w i l l h a v e t o l e a r n s o m e t h i n g f r o m t h e engineers. T h e l e a d e r w i l l h a v e t o le a r n f r o m b a d m a n a g e r s a n d t h e g o o d managers alike. There is no sweeter honey than learning from someone else’s professional mistakes, so that YOU LEARN! The journalist will have to learn from the chemists. The artist has t o l e a r n e x a c t s c i e n c e s . T h e s c i e n t i s t w o u l d h a v e t o l e a r n f in e a r t . And by the way, the reading of any material is an intellectual exercise and a mindful choice of and by your own self. Everything i n i t i s a r i g o r o u s i n t e l l e c t u a l e x e r c i s e i f y o u w a n t t o ke e p y o u r own seriousness on to yourself. I f y o u a r e r e a d i n g a n d s t u d y i n g t h i s ma t e r i a l , i t i s b e c a u s e y o u a re s e a rc h i n g f o r i d e a s , s o l u t i o n s o r pe r s p e c t i v e s f r o m o t h e r pe o p l e . Here there are no sub-themes or topics unrelated or not unambiguously and yet robustly related to the entirety of the WHOLE.
  • 81. 81 Anyone reading this material, if he / she felt that there are d i s c o m f o r t i n g g a p s b e t w e e n e a c h o t h e r s u b - t h e m e s , i s f a i l in g t o l i n k t h e s u b t l e t i e s o f c e r t a in i t e m s . I f y o u f e e l t h a t s o m e p o i n t s a re unrelated, it is only up to you to establish the appropriate links a n d u l t i m a t e c o n c l u s i o n . I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e s e a re k i n e t ic l i n k s . Remember that it is only you to whom belongs the “ownership” of d r a w i n g le s s o n s a n d c o n c lu s i o n s f r o m t h i s m a t e r i a l . T h i s m a t e r i a l , i n a n y c a s e , i s n o t i n t e n d e d t o b e n ic e o r s i m p l i s t i c , a s i t a d d r e s s e s t h e ma n y s e r i o u s c o m p l i c a t i o n s t h a t s u r r o u n d a l l a s pe c t s o f o u r l i v e s t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e d e g r e e . T he s e c o m p l i c a t i o n s a re r e m o v e d t o thrive and not cry. T h i s m a t e r i a l u t t e r l y a i m s t o r a i s e a w a r e n e s s a n d n o t p le a s i n g a n y soul. Certainly, this book does not seek to argue, especially so when going to the true roots of some problems that we face. We f a c e c o m p l e x p r o b l e m s ( “ a dv a n c e d p r o b l e m s ” ) t o S O L V E T H E M and to carry on with the UPSIDES of our personal l iv e s . The undersigned, to a simple (or compound) literary term or u n k n o w n i n o u r S h a k e s p e a r e a n l i n gu a f r a n c a , u se s a d i c t i o n a r y o r encyclopedia. Tell me, Do you know of a serious and disciplined r e a d e r w h o d o e s n o t r e q u i r e d i c t i o n a r i e s in t h e f a c e o f E a r t h ?
  • 82. 82 I reiterate, therefore, and since everything is interconnected with everything else, that the undersigned is not interested in giving a j u s t t i n y pe e k s a t a " c o r n e r " o f t h e p r o b l e m ( c h a l le n g e ) , b u t a broad and detailed one (that, by the way, flows), assessing and describing all the infinite nuances involved. I n a n y c a s e , t h e w o r l d t o d a y ( te r m e d b y s o m e a s t h e g l o b a l " Kn o w l e d g e S o c i e t y " ( t h a t a l s o e m b r a c e s t h e “ i n f o t e c h e c o n o m y ” ) requires, at all times, the most careful and thoughtful reading, s t u d y i n g a n d r e s e a rc h i n g o n a h u g e s c a le , a s i t s f l u i d i t y a n d s p e e d a re increasingly more volatile and less predictable. We are besieged both by breakthrough and uncertainty. We must manage b o t h c o n c u r r e n t l y , t h a t i s , in s e r i e s . Just to understand where each of us is located (work-wise, professionally, organizationally, in industry and to and before society), we have to do — in my opinion — a huge and sustained effort to try to identify and exploit the enormous driving forces that shape our lives. T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a l s o w a n t s t o m a k e i t a b u n d a n t l y c le a r t h a t t h e r e is NOT a quest to spread “bad news” or to consummate himself as a fatalist’s portrait.
  • 83. 83 The undersigned is not, as a result, either an “optimistic” or “ p e s s i m i s t i c , ” b u t ra t h e r a r a t i o n a l r e a l i s t i c t h a t b e c o m e s a l i t t l e hopeful when he begins to understand and work against the c ha l l e n g e s and in favor of the slits filtering and shedding i l lu s t r a t e d l i g h t t o c r e a t e n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h e m i d s t o f mayhem. On television when someone does not like a show he switches to a n o t h e r c ha n n e l. O n t h e W e b w h e n s o m e b o d y d o e s n o t l i ke a W e b pa g e , s h e c h a n g e s t o a n o t h e r . I f y ou f e e l t h a t y o u r h u m a n n a tu r e i s uncomfortable with the reading of this material, you can always just get another reading material please. T h e u n d e r s i g n e d o f f e r s r e l ia b i l i t y , p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , a t e c h n i c a l quality and analytical rigor. I have written this material to better u n d e r s t a n d m y o w n : t h o u g h t s , d i s c o v e r i e s , a n d t a k e s . An d t h u s t h e o b j e c t i v e i s t o b e u se f u l , f ru i t f u l , p r o d u c t i v e , p r o f i t a b l e a n d unfailing towards and within my clients, partners and my own pe r s o n . T h e c l a s s i c G re e k s b e l i e v e d t h a t a l l p r o b l e m s o f m a n k i n d a re d u e t o i g n o r a n c e a n d c a n o n l y b e c o r r e c t e d w i t h e du c a t i o n f o r l if e . T he undersigned fully and incontrovertibly agrees and supports the motion of the ancient Greeks.
  • 84. 84 Just to be on the “safe side,” my own Intellectual Manifesto is viewable at http://bit.ly/aBayq4 T h e s e e x t r e m e d y n a m i c s a re p r e s e n t e d h e r e w i t h k n o w l e d g e , a wa r e n e s s a n d e x p e c t i n g t o b r i n g a b o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s u c h multitude of counter-intuitiveness contexts. I have added an illustration at this p e r m a l i n k: http://bit.ly/Understanding_Dynamics CHAPTER 1 OBJECTIVE I n t h i s b o o k I h a v e t r i e d t o g iv e y o u a p r a c t i c a l o v e r v i e w o f m a s s i v e c ha n g e b e s i e g i n g o u r i n s t i t u t i o n s , p r o f e s s i o n s , l iv e s a n d iv c i v i l i z a t i o n s g l o b a l l y , a s w e l l a s o u r pe r s o n a s , a n d h o w i t c a n b e taken advantage of. Regardless of how thorough I have been, this written work is never a substitute for your own personal and professional research, discernment, pondering and conclusions. In the process, and remembering that “everything is related to e v e r y t h i n g el s e , ” [109] the undersigned will address subject matters that seem in deep disconnect. T he r e a re jillion
  • 85. 85 a s s u m p t i o n s , n o t i o n s , b e l ie f s , ─ a s w e l l a s “ t r u i s m s ” ( s o - c a l le d ) and grave misconceptions and fallacies ─ that are working extraordinarily in precluding a better understanding of the world we now live in. I w i l l f o c u s o n r i g o r w i t h v i g o r s i n c e s u p e r f ic i a l i t y h a s b e e n t a ke n to unprecedented prominence for our collective disgrace. By means o f a n e x a m p l e , i n C h i n a p e o p l e s a y : “ D on ' t l o o k a t t h e w a v e s ; j u s t l o o k at t h e c u r r e n t s u n d e r n e a t h . ” [ 1 2 9 ] I h a v e n ' t f ou n d a m o r e sensible wisdom to address the matters here under discussion. I n s p e a k i n g o f C h i n e s e s p i r i t u a l le a d e r s i n t i m e s o f a n t i q u i t y , a s a g e t o l d h i s d i s c i p l e s , “ At t e m pt n o t t o l i v e i n d i f f i c u lt t i m e s ; t h o s e a r e t h e i n t er e s t i n g o n e s i n d e e d . ” [ 1 2 9 ] Ou r g e n e r a t i o n s , a n d t h a t p r e c e d i n g o n e s t o o u r s , h a v e c h o s e n t o live in difficult times, Have they not? Either you face realities or find the “means” to avoid it and seize the good consequences out of the downsides. In China of antiquity there used to be some wise words — as per s o m e s p i r i t u a l le a d e r s — a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s : “ T h e f i r s t f i f t y y e a r s a r e t o l e ar n . T h e n e x t f i f t y y e a r s a r e t o l a b o r . ” [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 86. 86 I n J u l y 2 0 1 0 a t o p c o r p o r a t e p e t r o l e u m e x pe r t — s p e a k i n g o f imprudence as it was instilled in the Gulf of Mexico and as it is addressed here — said to news media that his British chairman was n o t a “ p er f e c t E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g p er s o n ! ” W ha t d i d h e m e a n ? D i d h e m e a n t h a t L o n d o n i s n o t s u f f i c ie n t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e G l o b e Theater? D i d h e m e a n t o s a y t h a t h i s b o s s w a s n o t S h a k e s p e a r e , B a c on , M i l t o n , o r D i c k e n s ? I n f e a r in g c o n s u m m a t e d l ia b i l i t i e s a r e b a r e d on one’s shoulders, Does one begin to arbitrarily tinker the s a c r o s a n c t s c i e n c e o f s e m a n t i c s t o d e f le c t le g a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ? And “what if” the undersigned and the present material’s author i n d i c a t e d : “ T o t i n k er a s p l e n d o r ou s a p p ar a t u s on l y t h at i s r e q u i r ed i s t o b e a H o m o S ap i e n s S ap i e n s , r e g a r d l e s s o f g e n d e r . ” I n c i d e n ta l l y , t h e r e a r e l o t s o f l o s t t a l k s , in d o c t r i n a t i o n , a n d teaching “leadership” so-called by all of the wrong and right pe o p l e m a k i n g i n s i d i o u s , s p e c t a c u l a r m i s t a k e s . T h e f e we r o n e s g e t it right. T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “ D ec l a r e t h e p a s t , r ec o v e r y e s t e r d a y , a n a l y z e t h e pr e s e n t , e n j o y t od a y , a n d c on c ei v e an d r e i n v e n t t o m o r r o w . ” [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 87. 87 Understanding the depth and breadth, partly, how people c a n c o n c e i v e , d e v e l o p a n d i n s t i t u t e t h e i r o wn f u t u r e s sustainably successful? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ T h e d o m i n a n t l a n gu a g e … a n d ec o n o m i c d r i v er … of this century … is going to be GENETICS. Those who remain i l l i t er a t e i n t h i s l a n g u a g e … W o n ’ t u n d e r s t a n d t h e f o r c e m a k i n g t h e s i n g l e b i g g e s t d i f f e r en c e i n t h e i r l i v e s . M an y c o u n t r i e s a n d c o m p a n i e s j u s t d on ’ t g e t i t . T h e y c o n t i n u e t o i n v e s t pr i m a r i l y i n s t u f f t h e y c a n s e e a n d t ou c h … E v e n t h o u g h t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e global economy … IS ALREADY A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY. THEY DO NOT INVEST IN, OR ATTRACT, SMART PEOPLE WHO ARE SCIENCE-LITERATE. THEY DO NOT GET PARTICULARLY C O N C E R N E D A S M A N Y O F T H E I R B RI G H T E S T L E A V E . T h e y f o r g et … Y o u n e ed f e w e r p e o p l e, t i m e , o r c a p i t a l … T o b u i ld a n at i o n … B ec o m e an ec o n o m i c s u p e r p o w e r … W a g e w a r e f f e c t i v e l y … Or launch a global b u si n e s s . BUT YOU DO NEED T E C H N O L O G Y - L I T E R A T E P E O P L E . L a c k o f t ec h n o l o g y l i t e r a c y …. I s o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s t h e g a p b e t w e en t h e r i c h e st an d t h e p o o r e s t c o u n t r i e s i n t h e w o r l d i s g r o wi n g s o q u i c k l y … W h y t h er e i s a 427:1 gap. One way to get to where you want to be is to find a g o o d m a p a n d a s m a r t g u i d e. T h e g r e a t c a r t o g r a p h e r s o f t o d a y a r en ’ t m a p p i n g c on t i n e n t s , r i v e r s , m o u n t a i n s , o r c i t i e s . T h e y a r e m a p p i n g t h e g e n et i c c o d e o f a l l l i v i n g t h i n g s . T h e s e m a p s a r e
  • 88. 88 c h a n g i n g t h e w a y w e l o o k a t a l l l i f e … B ec a u s e t h e y p r o v i d e b l u e p r i n t s c r u c i a l t o a l m o s t e v e r y b u si n e s s . T h e s e m a p s c h a n g e w h at w e c an m a k e a n d h o w w e m a k e i t … ( On e s a d c on s e q u en c e o f s c i e n c e m o v i n g s o q u i c k l y i n s o m a n y d i f f er e n t a r e a s i s t h at y o u f i n d e v e r f e w e r e x a m p l e s o f g o o d s c i en c e f i c t i on t o d a y … T h e future simply catches up to the imagination too quickly … As of J a n u ar y 3 1 , 2 0 0 1 , i t w a s l e g a l t o c l on e h u m a n e m b r y o s i n B r i t a i n . ) . W i l l i n g l y , or u n w i l li n g l y , t h e a b i l i t y t o r e ad t h e h u m a n g e n e c o d e ( g en o m e ) … M a k e s u s a l l e x p l or e r s . W e h a v e t o b e w a r e o f w a t e r f a l l s . S o m e w i l l h a v e a s e n s e o f h o w t o n a v i g a t e … O t h er s w i l l d r i f t a l o n g p l ac i d l y … T i ll t h e w a t e r g e t s r o u gh a n d m u r k y … And the bottom suddenly disappears. Those wh o approach w a t er f a l l s i n c a n o e s … W i t h n o m a p … A r e u n li k e l y t o s u r v i v e i f t h e w a t e r f a l l s a r e r e a l l y h i g h . T h i s h a p p e n s t o f a m i l i e s , r e g i on s , and whole countries … Particularly when they fail to make the n e x t g e n e r at i o n s m a r t er … O r d ec i d e t o e x h a u s t t h e m s e l v e s b y desperately p ad d l i n g against c h an g e … They too b ec o m e irrelevant and disappear. YOUR F UT U R E , THAT OF YOUR C HI L D R E N , A N D T H A T O F Y O U R C O U N T R Y D E P E N D O N … UNDERSTANDING A GLOBAL ECONOMY DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY. UNDERSTANDING CODE, PARTICULARLY GENETIC CODE, IS TODAY’S MOST POWERFUL TECHNOLOGY.” [163]
  • 89. 89 There is not a single robust teamwork if there isn’t plentiful of cohesive bonding — regarding the sense of purpose and aiming h i g h e s t t o c o n q u e r i n g g o a l s , o b j e c t i v e s a n d o u t c o m e s — if t h e r e i s n o o p t i m u m a n d e x e c u t a b l e s t a t e s a n d f l o w i n g , y e t in t e g r a t e d states of esprit de corps. How are updsides and do w n s i d e s traded-off? See the i l lu s t r a t i o n a t h t t p : / / s l i d e s h a . r e / b q m 8 J a B e f o r e t e a m i n g u p i n t o g r e a t a l i g n m e n t o f pu r p o s e , s p i r i t o f u n i t y and sense of urgency though, get an extraordinary yet actionable teaming arrangement getting every neuron-cell and every neuron and every synaptic connection to board the vessel impersonated by y o u r o w n m i n d a n d a s pe r y o u r o w n b r a i n m o n o l i t h i c a l l y . I n o t h e r w o r d s , i f y ou c a n ’ t g e t y o u m e n t a l a c t t o g e t h e r , y o u r e x e c u t i o n a c t will be a mess and even mayhem. W ha t a b o u t h o w w e c o n s t r u e o u r t h i n k i n g ? L e t ’ s s e e A m b r o s e B i e r c e ’ s ta k e o n i t : “ [ B r a i n i s , ] a n a p p ar a t u s wi t h w h i c h w e t h i n k that we think.” [130] I will be referring about leadership frequently since there has never been a more opaque time to have a bu n d a n t la c k of l e a d e r s h i p . S e c o n d l y , p e o p l e b e l i e v e t h a t h a v in g t h e le a d e r s h i p
  • 90. 90 t r a i t s a r e o n l y a b o u t t h e “ s o f t w a r e ” ( u s i n g J a c k W e lc h ’ s p a r l a n c e ) and not to be fully immersed into actionable, practical science. The two most important pillars to leadership in my view are (a) M o r a l a n d e t h i c a l v a lu e s , a n d ( b ) P o s s e s s i o n o f a v a s t b o d y o f applied science. For instance, I am not interested about speaking of le a d e r s h i p if oriented by “themes” such as “Emotional Intelligence,” “Political Correctness,” and, say, “Ontological Coaching.” Check out the truest futurist ensuing! By , t h e w a y f u t u r i s m e q u a t es t o f u t u r o l o g y ? I t n e v e r e q u a t e s . F u tu r i s m i s a n “ a r t i s t i c m o v e m e n t o r i g i n a t i n g i n I ta l y a r o u n d 1 9 1 0 w h o s e a i m w a s t o e x p r e s s t h e e n e r g e t i c , d y n a m i c , a n d v i o l e n t q u a l i t y o f c o n t e m p o r a r y l if e , e s pe c i a l l y a s embodied in the motion and force of modern machinery.” Futurology is the “study or forecasting of potential developments, a s i n s c i e n c e , t e c h n o l o g y , a n d s o c i e t y , u s in g c u r r e n t c on d i t i o n s and trends as a point of departure.” [158], [159] R . B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l e r : “ I f h u m a n i t y d o e s n o t o p t f o r i n t e gr i t y w e a r e t h r ou g h c o m p l e t e l y . I t i s ab s o l u t e l y t o u c h a n d g o . E a c h o n e o f u s c o u l d m a k e t h e d i f f er e n c e. ” [ 1 1 1 ]
  • 91. 91 When one has been a manager for global corporations with intensive consumptions of knowledge-based capital, anyone will realize that is folly to speak about said leadership lacking the two pillars I mentioned above. We will here be needing perennial “extreme make-overs” in the modes we exercise the mind to capture maximum optimums. S i n c e I w i l l b e u s i n g m e t a p h o r s , I w i s h t o e s t a b l i s h a c le a r d e f i n i t i o n o f t h i s l e x i c o n . M e ta p h o r s a r e d e f i n e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n Heritage dictionary as: “…A figure of speech in which a word or p h r a s e t h at o r d i n ar i l y d e s i gn a t e s o n e t h i n g i s u s ed t o d e s i g n at e a n ot h e r , t h u s m a k i n g a n i m pl i c i t c o m p a r i s o n … ” I will use metaphors often in this textbook though, in the final a n a l y s i s , t h e e n t i r e t y o f t h i s ma t e r i a l w i l l b e s u b j e c t e d t o g r e a t r i g o r . S p e a k i n g o f t h e i m m e n s e v a r ia t i o n s o f c h a n g e r e q u i r e s addressing that subject through many angles. As I quote the exact words (at least that I expect) of a multitude of a u t h o r s , t h i n k e r s , a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d o t h e r p e o p l e o f le a r n i n g ( a l s o t r y i n g t o o f f e r p r o f e s s i o n a l in f o r m a t i o n o n t h e t h i r d - p e r s o n g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l ) , I q u o t e — in f i r s t pe r s o n — m y o w n w o r d s a n d h e n c e s t a t e m y o w n o p i n i o n s , r e f le c t i o n s , i d e a s , a n d p o n d e r i n g .
  • 92. 92 Otherwise, the say of each one would only be attributable at all to each specific person in question. All quotations not otherwise cited a re from the interviews c o n d u c t e d b y t h e a u t h o r o r p e r s o n a l c o m m u n ic a t i o n s , a s t h e y w e r e sent to the author. I am not sure, but I believe it was Archimedes the first notorious b r a i n t o u s e g r a p h i c s . I u se e l o q u e n t a n d r e f l e c t iv e q u o t a t i o n s e x t e n s i v e l y a s i f t h e y we r e p ic t o r i a l s , g r a p h i c s , i l l u s t r a t i o n s o f s o m e o t h e r s o r t , s o t h a t I m a k e t h e m a x i mu m a p p e a l i n t o p e r v a s i v e m e d i t a t i o n o n t h e pa r t o f t h e p r e s e n t r e a d e r . I ’ m t r y i n g t o g e t y o u t o d i s c e r n t a n g e n t i a l l y in t h e m e a n t i m e a s y o u d o y o u r d i s c e r n m e n t a n d p o n d e r i n g t h e w a y y o u l i ke . Recalling that this material is about the impact and the points of inflections fostered by many modes of change and to the utter end o f s p o k e n - o f c h a n g e , J o h n S e e l y B r o w n a n d P a u l Du g u i d m a k e t h e f o l l o w i n g c la i m : “ T e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d s o c i a l s y s t e m s s h a p e e a c h o t h e r … t ec h n o l o g i e s — s u c h a s gu n p o w d er , t h e pr i n t i n g p r e s s , t h e r ai l r o a d , t h e t e l e gr a p h a n d t h e I n t e r n e t — c a n s h a p e s o c i e t y i n profound ways. But on the other hand, social systems — in the f o r m o f g o v e r n m e n t s , t h e c ou r t s a n d i n f o r m a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,
  • 93. 93 social movements, professional networks, local communities, m a r k et i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d s o f o r t h — s h a p e , m o d e r at e a n d r ed i r ec t the raw power of technologies.” [56] F o r t h i s r a t e o f c h a n g e , W h a t e l s e a r e y ou g o i n g t o n e e d ? G e o r g e H o r a c e L o r i m e r ( a t t r i b u t e d t o ) : “ Y o u ' v e g o t t o g et u p e v e r y m o r n i n g w i t h d et e r m i n a t i on i f y o u 'r e g o i n g t o g o t o b ed w i t h satisfaction.” A s y o u r w o r k t h r o u g h t h e f o l l o w i n g pa g e s a n d if t h e r e a d e r i s u n d e r a pe r v a s i v e s e a r c h o f h i s a n d h e r s o v e r e i g n o w n ( a m i r a c le w i t h i t s o w n m e r i t s i n a n d b y i t s e l f ) , r e m e m b e r t h a t y ou a r e o n a journey that will take time, commitment, study, research, d i s c i p l i n e a n d p e r e n n i a l s e l f - r e f le c t i o n , a n d s e lf - p o n d e r i n g . T h e n you’ll need to execute smartly and in a sustaining smartness and cleverness through the most acid tests of times. Mind, Evolution and Universe? A s P r i n c e t o n p h y s i c i s t F r e e m a n D y s o n p u t i t : “ M i n d , t h r ou g h t h e l on g c ou r s e o f b i o l o g i c a l e v o l u t i o n , h a s e s t a b li s h e d i t s e l f a moving force in our little corner of the universe. Here on this s m a l l p l a n e t , mi n d h a s i n f i l t r a t ed m a t t e r a n d h a s t a k en c o n t r o l .
  • 94. 94 I t a p p e ar s t o m e t h e t en d en c y o f mi n d t o i n f i lt r a t e a n d c o n t r o l m a t t e r i s a l a w o f n at u r e . ” [ 8 6 ] Evolution and change? C a r l S a g a n : “ T w o b i l l i o n y e a r s a g o , ou r an c e s t o r s w er e m i c r o b e s ; a h a l f - b i l l i on y e a r s a g o , f i s h ; a h u n d r e d mi l l i o n y e a r s a g o , s o m e t h i n g l i k e m i c e ; t e n m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o , ar b o r e a l a p e s ; a n d a m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o , p r ot o - h u m a n s pu z z l i n g t h e t a m i n g o f f i r e. Ou r e v o l u t i o n ar y l i n e a g e i s m ar k e d b y m a s t e r y o f c h a n g e . I N O U R TIME, THE PACE IS QUICKENING.” [142] Machines and humans playing the mice-cats hunting game? R o d n e y B r o o k s : “ O u r m a c h i n e s wi l l b e c o m e m u c h m o r e l i k e u s , a n d w e wi l l b e c o m e m u c h m or e l i k e o u r m a c h i n e s . ” [ 1 4 2] W a s t h e U n i v e r s e ' s b i r t h a m a t t er o f “ f a n c y ” l u c k ? I n de e d ! T o p - n o t c h A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t s ( o f e m in e n c e ) h a v e l a v i s h l y p r o v e n t h a t “ l u c k ” — s o - c a l l e d — d o e s n o t e x i s t . I a m n o t a f ra i d t o b e o n that boat only! H e n r y P o n c a i r e : “ F or h i m [ C a m i l e F l a m m a r i o n ] t i m e w o u ld h a v e c h a n g ed s i g n [ f r o m p o s i t i v e t o n e g a t i v e ] . H i s t o r y w ou l d b e t u r n e d
  • 95. 95 ab o u t , W a t er l o o w o u l d p r ec e d e A u s t er l i t z … A l l w ou l d s e e m t o h i m t o c o m e o u t o f a s o r t o f c h a o s i n u n st a b l e e q u i l i b r i u m . A l l n a t u r e w o u l d a p p e ar t o h i m d e l i v e r ed o v e r t o c h a n c e . ” [ 1 2 7 ] O p p o r t u n e i s , s u b s e q u e n t l y , t o r e m e m b e r E i n s t e i n ’ s w o r d s , “T h e r e i s n o t h i n g m o r e p r a c t i c a l t h an t h e o r y . ” [ 1 1 1 ] If it is going to take time and without desiring to discouraging you, I mu s t u n a m b i g u o u s l y s t a t e t h a t t h e r e i s n o r o o m h e r e , n o w , t h e r e or then for easy “magic solutions.” It is too vast a task for me to encourage or discourage anyone. Nonetheless, getting to work through applied omniscience << http://slidesha.re/omisci >> will render grounded hopes. The more the smart working, the more the grounded hopes. Which “magic solutions” are those in d e e d ? People seeking immediate and easy solutions without (a) the depth of theoretical and empirical knowledge and (b) resources are set out to a major s e l f - f ru s t r a t i o n a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t . A n d t h e y w i l l g e t t h e s e m a j o r s e l f - f ru s t r a t i o n s a n d s e l f - d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s w i t h o u t a f a i l a n d i n a n ever-increasing rate of growth until they understand the following: “ Y o u c a n n o t g et t o a n e w p l a c e w i t h a n o ld m a p . ” [ 2 8 ] T o c o n c e i v e a n e w ma p i s n o m i n u t i a e f f o r t . I n f a c t , i t ’ s a n i m m e n s e a n d immensely effort to be unfailing sustain.
  • 96. 96 Lacking to meet or factually meeting raw realities, as well as e lu c i d a t i n g t h e f i n d i n g s , i s a p e r s o n a l j ou r n e y t o t h e i n n e r m o s t core of each one. You can do something or you can do nothing. This is how democracy operates. Each one has its bearings. Take the pick. T o k e e p m y c o n s c i e n t i o u s a w a r e n e s s h e i g h t e n e d a n d n e v e r t o ra i s e t h e w r o n g e x p e c ta t i o n , m y o w n I n t e l l e c tu a l M a n if e s t o i s v i e wa b l e at http://bit.ly/aBayq4 A l l o w m e n o w t o a d d a n o t h e r in t e r e s t i n g p e r s p e c t i v e a s y o u w i l l b e f i n d i n g h a b i t u a l l y t h r o u g h t h i s t e x t b o o k . I n h i s b o o k “T h e N e w Ruthless Economy: W or l d an d Power in the Di g i t a l Age,” (publisher in March 2005), Simon Head (high-ranking member of t h e R o t h e r m e r e A m e r i c a n I n s t i t u t e o f O x f o r d ) in d i c a t e s : “ S i n c e 1 9 9 5 , t h e y e a r i n w h i c h t h e n e w ec o n o m y b a s e d o n i n f o r m a t i o n t e c h n o l o g y b e g a n t o b o o m , t h e r e v e n u e s h a v e n ot b e e n p r o p o r t i o n a l t o p r od u c t i v i t y a n d , d u r i n g t h e l a s t fi v e y e a r s , t h e g a p b e t w e e n i n c o m e a n d pr o d u c t i v i t y h a s b e e n d r a m a t i c . B e t w e e n 1 9 9 5 an d 2 0 0 6 t h e p r od u c t i v i t y g r o wt h p e r e m p l o y e e s u p er s e d ed e m p l o y e e s ’ a c t u a l w a g e s i n 3 4 0 % . B et w e e n 2 0 0 1 an d
  • 97. 97 2 0 0 6 , t h e f i r s t s i x y e a r s o f G e o r g e H . B u sh ’ s pr e s i d en c y , t h i s g a p f u r t h e r d e e p e n ed i n a n a l a r m i n g 7 7 9 % . ” [ 5 8 ] P e r p e t u a l n o v e l t y — a f u n c t i o n o f d r a m a t i c c h a n g e d c ha n g e u n d e r a multitude of fluxes of convergence — appears entirely, increasingly u n l e a s h e d f r o m p r e c e d e n t w h e n a n a l y ze d f r o m t h e l o n g e s t a n d a m p le s t historic pe r s p e c t i v e (pursued by an exact-science p r a c t i t i o n e r ) , t h u s c re a t i v e l y d i s r u p t i n g ( d r a g g i n g t h e F UT U R E i n t o t h i s a s - o f - n o w P R E S E N T ) t h r o u g h a c ha i n o f pa s t - t i m e successions. The links between historic successions and other preterit s e q u e n c e s a n d s u b - s e q u e n c e s n o t o n l y a re “ b r o k e n ” a n d m o s t l u c i d f o r c e d a g a i n s t f u z z y - l o g i c d i s c e r n m e n t a n d c ou n t e r - i n tu i t i v e n e s s ( t h a t o f m y b e l o v e d , y e t - in - i t s - i n f a n c y qu a n t u m m e c h a n i c s ) , b u t also beginning to get unrelated to the essence, the substance, the depth and scope and tempo, as well as to the veritable and relevant facts. What precludes you from being lucid as per Twentieth-One Century ? Arthur Scopenhaur: “Everyone takes the limits of his own vision f o r t h e l i m i t s o f t h e w o r l d . ” [ 1 4 2]
  • 98. 98 Fuzzy-logic discernment and counter-intuitiveness must take into consideration many pathways among many others, including those by Buddhism. F o r i n s t a n c e , K a lu R i n p o c h e e s t a b l i s h e s : “W e l i v e i n i l l u s i o n a n d t h e a p p e a r an c e o f t h i n g s . T h e r e i s a r e a l i t y . W e ar e t h at r e a l i t y . W h e n w e u n d er s t a n d t h i s , w e s e e t h at w e a r e n ot h i n g . A n d b e i n g n ot h i n g , w e ar e e v e r y t h i n g . T h a t i s a l l . ” [ 6 8 ] What is dynamical and what is permanent indeed? H e ra c l i t u s — G re e k P h i l o s o p h e r ( c . 5 4 0 — c . 4 8 0 B C) : “ N o m a n e v e r s t e p s i n t o t h e s a m e r i v e r t w i c e , f o r i t ’ s n ot t h e s a m e r i v e r a n d h e ’ s n ot t h e s a m e m e n . ” [ 1 0 5 ] More Buddhist wisdom to gain some perspective about Fuzzy-logic d i s c e r n m e n t a n d c o u n t e r - i n t u i t i v e n e s s : “I f w e a r e f a c i n g i n t h e right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” [71] T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “I li k e t h o s e p r e d i c t i o n s ( w h o s e d r i v i n g f or c e s I h a v e e l i c i t ed ) t h a t r u n c ou n t er t o ' c o n v e n t i o n a l wi s d o m ' — s o - c al l e d —, b u t w h i c h u l t i m a t e l y t u r n ed ou t t o b e t r u e i n pr a c t i c e . ” [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 99. 99 And a westerner’s view on wisdom. Theodore Roosevelt: “ N i n e - t e n t h s o f o u r w i s d o m c on s i s t s i n b ei n g w i s e t i m e l y . ” [ 1 1 9 ] R e a l i t y , M i n d a n d Bu d d h i s m b y a W es t e rn e r ’ s V i e w ! A citation on Gary Hamel’s Leading The Revolution book: “Alan K a y t e l l s a w on d e r f u l l i t t l e s t o r y a b ou t h o w h e c a m e t o r e c o g n i z e t h i s d e e p t r u t h : On t h e t h i r d d a y o f a c o n f er e n c e a t a B u d d h i s t c e n t e r , I a s k e d p e o p l e w h y t h e y pu t t h ei r p a l m s t o g et h e r s e v e r a l t i m e s a d a y . T h e B u d d h i s t s b e l i e v e t h at t h e w o r ld i s a n i ll u s i o n , b u t w e h a v e t o g o a l on g w i t h t h e i l lu s i o n f or e f f i c i e n c y r e a s o n s . W h e n t h e y p u t t h e i r h an d s t o g e t h er i t i s a s e m i c o l o n , a n ac k n o w l e d g m en t t h a t wh a t e v e r t h e y m a y t h i n k i s g o i n g o n r i g h t n o w i s l a r g e l y a f a b r i c a t i on o f t h e i r o w n m i n d . ” [ 8 8 ] Spreading out into the near-by downtown’s suburbs, chiefly the ones at a thousand miles from the outskirts of “central city”! T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “ T a n t a l i z e y o u r t a n g e n t i a l p r e - c o g n i t i on an d c o gn i t i o n i n t o e v e r - m et a m o r p h o s i n g your attentive and contemplative trans- m ed i t at i o n Z en . ” [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 100. 100 World and vision? “ W h e n t h e w or l d a n d t h e m i n d a r e b ot h t r an s p a r e n t , t h i s i s t r u e v i s i o n t h at w h i c h d o e s n ’ t e x i s t d o e s n ’ t e x i s t i n r e l a t i o n t o t h at w h i c h e x i s t s . T h i s i s t r u e v i s i o n . B y m e a n s o f s u c h v i s i on n ot h i n g i s s e en a n d n o t h i n g i s n o t s e e n … . T h e mi n d a n d t h e w o r ld a r e o p p o s i t e s , a n d v i s i o n a r i s e s w h en t h e y m e e t . W h en y o u r m i n d d o e s n ’ t s t i r i n s i d e, t h e w o r l d d o e s n ’ t ar i s e o u t s i d e . W h en t h e w o r l d a n d m i n d a r e b ot h t r a n s p a r en t , t h i s i s t r u e v i s i o n . An d s u c h u n d er s t a n d i n g i s t r u e u n d er s t a n d i n g . ” B y B o d h i d h a r m a , Indian Zen Buddhist monk who brought Zen from India to China (circa 520 A.D.) [89] Courage and success by the prominent British premier. W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l : “ C ou r a g e i s t h e c ap a c i t y t o g o f r o m f ai l u r e t o failure with increased enthusiasm!” [111] If we really wish to make a substantial difference, we ’ r e going to need this personal cosmological trait lavishly I am not afraid to assert. Succeeding in reversal?
  • 101. 101 P i e t H e i n : “ T h e r o ad t o wi s d o m ? W e l l, i t ’ s p l ai n an d s i m p l e t o express. Err and err and err again but less and less and less.” [89] A distant past and also a distant future, right here? E d w a r d F re d k i n ( b o r n 1 9 3 4 ) : “ A t h i r d i m p l i c a t i o n o f t h e c o n c e p t i s t h a t b e c au s e t h e v a s t pr e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e li f e t i m e o f t h e u n i v er s e l i e s i n t h e d i st a n t f u t u r e r a t h e r t h a n i n t h e p a s t , t h e historical achievements of li f e and mind are meager f o r e s h ad o w i n g s o f t h e s t a r r i n g r o l e t h a t i n t el l i g e n t l i f e i s l i k e l y t o p l a y i n s h a p i n g t h e f u t u r e o f t h e c o s m o s . I n d e ed , t h i s n e w w a y o f l o o k i n g a t t h e i n t i m a t e li n k a g e o f li f e , m i n d , a n d t h e c o s m o s s u g g e s t s a n o v e l w a y o f t h i n k i n g ab o u t t h e u lt i m a t e d e st i n y o f ou r destiny of our universe.” [86] How does a psychologist conceive the past-present-future i n t er r e l a t i o n s h i p ? D r . P h i l i p Z i m b a r d o , P h D : “ C on s i d e r a n y d ec i s i o n y o u h ad t o m a k e r ec e n t l y : D o I k e e p w o r k i n g o r g o o u t t o p l a y ; t a k e on e m o r e d r i n k b e f o r e d r i v i n g h o m e; t a k e a c h a n c e an d c h e a t o n m y t a x e s o r a n e x a m ; p r a c t i c e s a f e s e x o r j u s t d o i t ; r e s i st o r g i v e s i n t o t e m p t a t i on ? A s y o u c o n t e m p l a t e w h a t y o u w i l l d o, y o u a r e
  • 102. 102 i n f l u e n c ed b y a n u m b e r o f f ac t o r s . F or s o m e p e o p l e , t h e w o r ld i s li m i t ed t o a l l t h e f o r c e s t h e y p e r c e i v e i n t h e i r i m m ed i a t e l y pr e s e n t s i t u a t i o n , t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l u r g e s , t h e i r s o c i a l s e t t i n g an d t h at w h i c h o t h er s a r e d oi n g o r u r gi n g t h e m t o d o , an d t h e s e n su o u s a p p e a l o f t h e s t i m u l u s i t s e l f . T h o s e f o l k s w h o u su a l l y l i mi t t h e i r d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g b e r e f er r i n g o n l y t o t h e c u r r en t c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e P r e s e n t - or i e n t e d . O t h e r p e o p l e m a k i n g a d e c i s i o n i n t h e s a m e s e t t i n g d o w n p l a y t h e p r e s e n t an d s e a r c h t h e i r m e m o r i e s f o r s i m i l a r p a s t s i t u a t i o n s ; t h e y r ec a l l w h a t t h e y d i d i n t h e p a s t a n d h o w t h e s e d e c i s i on s t u r n ed o u t . T h e s e f o l k s a r e P a s t - or i e n t e d . F i n a l l y , a t h i r d t y p e o f p e r s o n m a k e s u p h er o r h i s m i n d e n t i r e l y b a s e d o n i m a g i n ed f u t u r e c on s e q u en c e s — t h e c o st s an d b e n e fi t s — o f a n a c t i o n . I f an t i c i p a t ed c o s t s o u t w ei g h an t i c i p at e d b en e f i t s o r g a i n s , t h e y w on ’ t g o f o r w a r d . T h e y o n l y g o f o r w a r d w h en t h e y e x p ec t g a i n s t o p r e d o m i n a n c e … T h e i d e a l t i m e pr o f i l e i s a b a l a n c e o f b ei n g h i g h o n t h e p a s t - p o s i t i v e , m od e r a t e l y h i gh on t h e p r e s e n t - h ed o n i s t i c a n d f u t u r e , a n d l o w on t h e p a s t - n e g a t i v e a n d present-fatalistic times p er s p e c t i v e s …. In other words, c o n s c i en t i o u s p e o p l e r e g u l a r l y t h i n k a b ou t f u t u r e c o n s e q u e n c e s b e f o r e m a k i n g a d ec i s i on … I b e li e v e p r e s e n t t r an s c e n d e n c e a n d future hopefulness are essential components of a successful t h e r a p eu t i c i n t e r v e n t i o n … . O u r g o a l i s t o h e l p y o u r e c l a i m y e s t e r d a y , en j o y t o d a y , a n d m a s t e r t o m o r r o w . T o d o s o , w e ’ l l g i v e
  • 103. 103 y o u n e w w a y s o f s e e i n g an d w o r k i n g w i t h y o u r p a s t , pr e s e n t , an d future …” [105] DNA, complexity and digital information system? E d w a r d F re d k i n ( b i o a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / b M V D l b ) d e s c r i b e d h i s t h e o r y i n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h s c i e n c e w r i t e r R o b e r t W r i g h t : “W h a t I ’ m s a y i n g i s t h a t a t t h e m o s t b a s i c l e v e l o f c o m p l e x i t y an i n f o r m a t i on p r o c e s s r u n s w h a t w e t h i n k o f a s p h y s i c s . A t t h e m u c h h i g h er l e v e l o f c o m p l e x i t y l i f e , D N A — y o u k n o w , t h e b i oc h e m i c a l f u n c t i o n s — a r e c o n t r o l l e d b y a d i gi t a l i n f or m a t i o n s y s t e m . T h en , a t a n o t h er level, our t h ou g h t p r oc e s s e s ar e basically i n f or m a t i o n p r o c e s s i n g . ” [ 8 6] Universe with a purpose? Robert Wright (bio at h t t p : / / b i t . l y / a z Fv Z G ) , in response to F r e d k i n , pu t s i t : “ F r e d k i n b e li e v e s t h at t h e u n i v e r s e i s v e r y li t e r a l l y a c o m p u t e r an d t h a t i t i s b ei n g u s ed b y s o m e o n e , o r s o m e t h i n g , t o s o l v e a p r o b l e m. I t s o u n d s li k e a g o o d n e w s / b a d j o k e: t h e g o o d n e w s i s t h a t o u r li v e s h a v e pu r p o s e ; t h e b a d n e w s i s t h at t h ei r p u r p o s e i s t o h e l p s o m e r e m o t e h a c k er pi t o n i n e j i l l i on d ec i m a l p l ac e s . ” [ 8 6 ]
  • 104. 104 The artificial man? The philosopher Thomas Hobbes (bio at h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 5v a I 4) o f f e r e d a n u n c a n n y p r e v i e w o f t h e s c i e n c e o f a r t i f i c ia l i n t e l l i g e n c e in his masterpiece Leviathan [ de s c r i p t i o n viewable at http://bit.ly/16Qymw] published in 1651: “Nature (the Art w h er e b y G od h at h m a d e a n d g o v e r n s t h e W o r ld ) i s b y t h e A r t o f m a n , a s i n m a n y o t h er t h i n g s , s o i n t h i s a l s o i m i t a t ed , t h a t i t c a n m a k e an A r t i f i c i a l A n i m a l . F o r s e e i n g l i f e i s b u t a m o t i o n o f Limbs, the beginning whereof is in the principal part within; why w e n o t s a y t h at a l l A u t o m a t a ( En g i n e s t h a t m o v e t h e m s e l v e s b y s p r i n g s a n d w h e e l s a s d ot h a w a t c h ) h a v e a n ar t i fi c i a l l i f e ? ” [ 8 6] Is there some sort of highest-order entity regulating us? D a v i d J a y B r o w n a s k e d a m e d i c “W h a t i s y o u r p er s p e c t i v e o n t h e c o n c ep t o f G o d a n d h o w s p i r i t u a l i t y p l a y e d a r o l e i n y o u r v i e w o f m ed i c i n e ? ” D r . J a c o b T e i t e l b a u m , M . D . r e s p o n d e d : “ …i f e v e r y t h i n g i s G o d , G od d e s s , S p i r i t — wh e t h er y o u w a n t t o c a l l i t — i t ’ s a l l o n e. I t ’ s a l l c on n ec t ed , a n d t h a t m e a n s t h a t a l l t h at ’ s g o i n g o n i s G o d l o o k i n g a t G o d ’ s s e l f . S o i t ’ s a l l s i m p l y d i f f e r en t p e r s p e c t i v e s , a n d t h at ’ s a f a s c i n a t i n g t h i n g . T h at m e a n s n ob o d y i s c u t o f f fr o m G o d , w h et h e r t h e y a r e a t h e i s t s or wh a t e v e r . Y o u d on ’ t h a v e t o b e l i e v e i n G od f o r S p i r i t t o l o v e y o u an d b e pr e s e n t , s o i t m e a n s
  • 105. 105 t h a t n ob o d y i s r i g h t a n d n o b od y i s w r o n g. I t ’ s a l l s i m p l y d i f f er e n t p er s p e c t i v e s , w h i c h i s v e r y fr e e i n g, b ec a u s e y o u d o n ’ t h a v e t o b a t t l e a n yb o d y . Y o u j u s t h a v e t o d o y o u r o w n t h i n g … . T h i s a l s o a l l o w s u s t o r ec o g n i z e ou r o w n c o n n e c t i o n t o s p i r i t , w h i c h i s v e r y h e a l i n g , b ec a u s e i t a l l o w s t h a t e n er g y t o f l o w i n t o u s , a n d a l l o w s u s t o s t a y wh o l e an d c on n e c t e d . S o t h a t ’ s a v e r y p o w er f u l t h i n g. I m e a n , m y w h o l e l i f e i s ab o u t S p i r i t a n d a b o u t G o d , o r G o d d e s s . T o t h i n k o f G od a s o n l y a m a n s o u n d s li k e a n i n su l t t o G od . I t ’ s p r e t t y l i mi t i n g b e c au s e G od i s e v er y t h i n g . I t a l s o m e a n s t h at n ot h i n g an d n o o n e i s b et t e r o r w o r s e t h an an y b o d y e l s e . An d there’s this critical thing t h at h a p p en s , b ec a u s e that’s the t ou c h s t o n e t h r o u g h m u c h o f m y l i f e — t o r ec o g n i z e I a m eq u a l o f a l l b ei n g s , a n d n o o n e i s l e s s e r t h a n m e . T h a t m e a n s t h e r e ’ s n ob o d y t h a t I m e e t t h at ’ s b e t t er t h a n I a m , o r t h at I ’ m b e t t er t h a n t h e m . W e ’ r e a l l d i f f e r e n t p e r s p e c t i v e s o f G od . W e ’ r e a l l e q u a l, an d w e ’ r e a l l d i vi n e , e v er y b o d y . ” [ 1 0 7] Who exercises the self’s innermost core is that one into the “group thinking” dudes? Indeed? J e w i s h s c h o l a r a n d R a b b i H i l l e l: “I f I a m n o t f or m y s e l f , t h en w h o w i l l b e f o r m e ? A n d i f I a m o n l y f o r m y s e l f , t h an w h a t a m I ? An d i f n o t n o w , wh e n ? ” [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 106. 106 Taking care of oneself to make the difference? Descartes: “I think therefore I am.” [142] Which one is the “one,” really? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “I ’ m n ot o n e , b u t j u s t m y o w n o n e - a n d - o n l y o n e , w h i c h i s w i t h i n t h e ‘ I ’ o f t h e p r e s e n t o n e . N o t b ei n g t h e s o l e l y o n e o r o t h e r w i s e , i t i s prudent to assert that every ’ONE’ is beyond crucial, is she or he n ot ? I n m y c a s e an d at a n y r at e , I a m n o t a c on s u l t a n c y a d v i s e r , but an o mn i s c i en c e - d r i v e n think-tank researcher, analyst, c o n s u l t a n t , s t r at e g i s t a n d m a n g e r . ” [ 1 2 9 ] Y o u b e c o m e , s a y , i n w h a t ? Bu t h a v e y o u b e c o m e a l r e a d y ? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l ’ s a u t h o r in d i c a t e d : “I f I’m not ‘I,’ Who am I? Am I the breathing ‘I’? Am I the walking ‘I’? A m I w h at g e t s e a t en b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h at g e t s t h o u g h t b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h at g e t s w r i t t e n b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h a t g e t s s t u d i e d b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h a t g e t s r e s e a r c h ed b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h a t g e t s t h e s t a l e m a t e a i r t h a t i s p r e c l u d ed b y an d i n t o t h e ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h a t g e t s s e e n b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h at g e t s t h o u g h t b y ‘ I ’ ? A m I w h at g e t s g l e a n ed b y ‘ I ’ ? M y ‘ I ’ i s at immense rest since it knows its own ‘I’ in excelsis!” [129]
  • 107. 107 Space, evolution and universe? Cosmologist Frank Tipler (bio at http://bit.ly/cmsdLs) has bluntly stated: “Almost all of space and time lies in the future. By f oc u s i n g a t t en t i on o n l y o n t h e p a s t a n d p r e s e n t , s c i e n c e h a s i gn o r ed a l m o s t a l l o f r e a l i t y , i t i s a b o u t t i m e s c i en c e d ec i d ed t o study the future evolution of the universe.” [86] History and approaching a singularity? Information theorist John von Nuemann (bio at h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 2 z f u t o ) i n t h e 1 9 5 0 s : “ T h e e v e r a c c e l e r at i n g pr o g r e s s o f t e c h n o l o g y … g i v e s t h e a p p e ar a n c e o f a p p r o a c h i n g s o m e e s s e n t i a l s i n gu l a r i t y i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e r a c e b e y o n d w h i c h h u m a n a f f a i r s , a s w e k n o wn t h e m, c ou l d n o t c o n t i n u e . ” [ 8 6] Locating the Singularity’s domicile? M i c h a e l A n i s s i m o v : “ W h e n t h e fi r s t t r a n s h u m a n i n t e l l i g e n c e i s c r e a t ed a n d l au n c h e s i t s e l f i n t o r e c u r s i v e s e l f - i m pr o v e m e n t , a f u n d a m e n t a l d i s c on t i n u i t y i s li k e l y t o oc c u r , t h e li k e s o f w h i c h I can’t even begin to predict.” [142]
  • 108. 108 W h a t s h o u l d w e f i n d ou t — w i t h m a x i m u m r i g o r — i n history? W i l l i a m C h u r c h i l l : “ T h e f u r t h er b ac k w a r d y o u l o o k , t h e fu r t h e r f o r w ar d y o u c a n s e e . ” [ 1 0 4] The geometrically non-linear human progress! Ray Kurzweil (bio at http://bit.ly/MIMkN), in understanding the future of e v o lu t i o n , indicates: “Von N e u m an n makes two i mp o r t a n t o b s er v a t i o n s h er e : a c c e l e r at i o n a n d s i n g u l ar i t y . T h e f i r s t i d e a i s t h at h u m an pr o g r e s s i s e x p o n e n t i a l … r a t h er t h a n li n e a r … . T h e s e c o n d i s t h a t e x p o n e n t i a l g r o w t h i s s e d u c t i v e , s t ar t i n g o u t s l o w l y an d v i r t u a l l y u n n o t i c e a b l y , b u t b e y o n d t h e knee of the curve it turns explosive and profoundly transformative. The i n t e l l i g en c e that will e m er g e [post- S i n gu l a r i t y ] w i l l c on t i n u e t o r ep r e s e n t t h e h u m an c i v i li z a t i o n . I n o t h e r w or d s , f u t u r e m ac h i n e s wi l l b e h u m a n , e v e n i f t h e y a r e n o t b i o l o g i c a l . T h i s w i l l b e t h e n e x t s t e p i n e v o lu t i on , t h e n e xt h i gh - l e v e l p a r a d i g m s h i f t … . M o s t o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e o f ou r c i vi l i z a t i on w i l l u l t i m a t e l y b e n on b i o l o g i c a l . B y t h e e n d o f t h i s c en t u r y , i t wi l l b e t r i l l i o n s o f t r i l l i o n s o f t i m e s m or e p o w e r fu l t h an [ u n - en h a n c e d ] h u m a n i n t e l l i g e n c e . ” [ 8 6]
  • 109. 109 From shorthand writing to conceiving magnificent clones in wet labs? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ Y ou r c o m pu t e r r u n s o n a c o d e o n ‘ 1 ’ a n d ‘ 0 ’ s . I f y o u c h a n g e t h e or d er a n d n u m b er o f t h e s e 1 s an d 0 s … B y t a p pi n g t h e k e y b o a r d … Y ou c a p i t a l i z e a le t t er , c h a n g e a s en t e n c e , s e n d a n e - m a i l , t r an s m i t a p h o t o g r a p h i c o r m u s i c . T h e f l o p p y d i s k i s s i m p l y t h e c on t a i n e r f o r t h e s e 1 s an d 0 s . B u t i t i s r e ad i n g a n d rewriting the code inside that drives change …. As of 1995, we b e g a n t o r e a d t h e f u l l g e n e s e q u en c e o f … B a c t e r i a , i n s e c t s , p l an t s , a n i m a l s , h u m an s . I t i s wr i t t e n i n a f ou r - l e t t e r c o d e ( A , T , C , G ) … I f y o u c h an g e t h i s c od e , j u s t a s i f y o u c h a n g e t h e c o d e i n a f l o p p y d i s k o r o n a C D … Y ou c h a n g e t h e m e s s a g e , t h e p r o d u c t , the outcome.” [163] Cambrian explosion and the future? J a m e s N . G a r d n e r : “ I t s h o u ld n e v e r b e c l e a r t h a t t h e f u t u r e w i l l d i f f e r r ad i c a l l y f r o m t h e p a s t ; i t w i l l b e at le a s t d i f f e r en t a s t h e r ad i c a l l y new world of biological complexity and d i v er s i t y u sh e r ed i n t h e C a m b r i a n E x p l o s i o n w a s f r o m t h e pr e c ed i n g er a … . T h e c en t r a l p o i n t i s t h at c o l l a t e r a l a d v a n c e s i n s c i en c e s s e e m i n g l y f a r r e m o v e d f r o m c o s m o l o g y c an h e l p d i s s i p at e t h e i n t e l l ec t u a l li m i t at i o n s i m p o s e d b y c o m m o n s e n s e a n d n a ï v e h u m a n i n t u i t i o n .
  • 110. 110 And, in an uncanny reprise of the Lyell/Darwin intellectual synergy, it is a realization of the vastness of time and history t h a t gi v e s r i s e t o t h e c r u c i a l i n s i g h t . On l y i n t h i s i n s t an c e , t h e vastness of which I speak is the vastness of future time and future h i s t o r y . ” [ 8 6] Which common sense is that? Does it have the gold seal by Einstein? M a r v i n M i n s k y : “ C o m m o n s e n s e i s n ot a s i m p l e t h i n g. I n s t e ad , i t i s a n i m m en s e s o c i et y o f h a r d - e ar n ed pr a c t i c a l i d e a s ─ o f mu l t i t u d e s o f l i f e - l e a r n e d r u l e s an d e x c e pt i o n s , d i sp o s i t i o n s a n d t e n d e n c i e s , b a l an c e s a n d c h e c k s . ” [ 1 4 2 ] Past, future and baby universes? U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o c o s m o l o g i s t S e a n C a r r o l l : “T h e [ o b s er v e d ] a r r o w o f t i m e i n o u r u n i v er s e i s p u z z li n g b ec a u s e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l l a w s o f p h y s i c s t h e m s e l v e s ar e s y m m e t r i c a n d d o n ’ t s e e m t o d i s c r i m i n a t e b e t w e e n t h e p a s t a n d f u t u r e … . I n ou r p at c h o f t h e c o s m o s , t i m e j u s t s o h a p p en s t o b e m o v i n g f o r w a r d b ec a u s e o f i t s i n i t i a l l o w en t r o p y , b u t t h e r e a r e o t h e r s w h er e t h i s i s n ot t h e c a s e . T h e f a r p a s t an d t h e f ar f u t u r e a r e fi l l e d w i t h t h e s e ot h e r b a b y u n i v er s e s , a n d t h e y w o u ld e ac h t h i n k t h at t h e o t h er h a d i t s
  • 111. 111 a r r o w o f t i m e b ac k w a r d s . T i m e ’ s a r r o w i s n ’ t a b a s i c a s p ec t o f t h e u n i v er s e a s a w h o l e, j u st a h a l l m a r k o f t h e l i t t l e b i t w e s e e . ” [ 8 6 ] T h e L a r g e s t B o o k ! W h i c h on e i s i t ? I s i t t h e l a r g e s t b o o k o r one of the sub-largest books? G a l i l e o : “ P h i l o s o p h y i s wr i t t e n i n t h i s gr a n d b o o k — I m e a n t h e U n i v e r s e — w h i c h s t an d s c o n t i n u a l l y o p en t o ou r g a z e . B u t t h e b o o k c a n n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d u n l e s s o n e f i r s t l e a r n s t o c o m pr e h e n d t h e l a n gu a g e a n d r e a d t h e c h ar a c t er s i n w h i c h i t i s wr i t t e n . ” [ 8 6 ] Many problems of this “humankind” — so-called — are the u n p r e c e d e n t e d a m o u n t o f e x i s t e n t i a l r i s k s t h a t b e s t ow s u p o n i t s e l f u n k n o w i n g ly ? Columbia University President (circa 1820), on “Acting Like a Hu m a n ” : “That this toil of pure intelligence … c a n p o s s i b l y b e p er f o r m e d b y a n u n c o n s c i o u s m a c h i n e i s a p r o p o s i t i o n w h i c h i s r ec e i v e d wi t h i n c r ed u li t y . ” [ 1 0 4 ] Counter-intuitiveness at its best!
  • 112. 112 N i e l s B o h r , N o b e l P r i z e - w i n n in g p h y s i c i s t : “ T h e o p p o s i t e o f a f a l s e s t at e m e n t i s a c or r ec t s t at e m e n t . T h e o p p o s i t e o f a pr o f o u n d t r u t h may well be another profound truth.” [89] Counter-seeing to discover? A n d r e G i d e ( 1 8 6 9 - 1 9 5 1 ) : “ M an c a n n o t d i sc o v e r n e w oc e a n s u n l e s s h e h a s t h e c o u r a g e t o l o s e s i g h t o f t h e s h or e . ” [ 1 1 1 ] The influence to bias understanding? U p t o n S i n c l a i r : “ I t i s d i f f i c u lt t o g et a m a n t o u n d er s t a n d s o m e t h i n g w h en h i s s a l a r y d e p e n d s u p o n h i s n ot u n d e r s t a n d i n g it.” [111] How does history relate to consciousness? Jacob Burckhardt, attributed to, (1818 – 1897): “History is n at u r e ’ s d i s r u p t i o n c au s e d b y t h e a w a k e n i n g o f c o n sc i o u s n e s s . ” W h o i s y o u r t e a c h e r t h a t i s n o t o u t s i d e o f y ou r o wn s e l f ? B r i a n T ra c y : “ N o on e l i v e s l o n g en o u g h t o l e a r n e v e r y t h i n g t h e y need to learn s t ar t i n g fr o m sc r a t c h . To be s u c c e s s f u l, we
  • 113. 113 ab s o l u t e l y , p o s i t i v e l y h a v e t o f i n d p e o p l e w h o h a v e a lr e a d y p ai d t h e p r i c e t o l e ar n t h e t h i n g s t h a t w e n e ed t o l e ar n t o a c h i e v e o u r goals.” [111] Relatives and absolutes? S i r W i n s t o n C h u rc h i l l : “ T h e er a o f p r oc r a s t i n a t i o n , o f h a l f - m e a s u r e s , o f s o o t h i n g a n d b a f f l i n g e x p ed i en t s , o f d e l a y s , i s c o m i n g t o a c l o s e . I n i t s p l ac e , w e ar e e n t e r i n g a p er i o d o f c o n s e q u en c e s . ” [ 1 1 1 ] I t ' s i m p o s s i b l e t o r u n en t e r p r i s e s w i t h o u t t h e g r o u n ds a n d basis to apply in action! E i n s t e i n : “ O u r t h e o r i e s d e t er m i n e w h a t w e m e a s u r e . ” [ 1 1 6 ] I m p r o b a b i l i t i e s w o r k i n g on b e h a l f o f t h e l e a r n e d? L o u i s P a s t e u r : “ C h a n c e f a v o r s t h e p r e p a r ed m i n d . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Science and spirituality? A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ I h ol d t h at t h e c o s m i c r e l i g i ou s f e e li n g i s t h e s t r o n g e s t m o t i v e i n f o s t e r i n g s c i en t i fi c r e s e a r c h . ” [ 1 1 1 ]
  • 114. 114 You’re your own leader? M o t h e r T e r e s a : “ D o n o t w a i t f o r l e a d e r s ; d o i t a l o n e, p e r s o n t o p er s o n . ” [ 1 1 1 ] F r o m h a p p i n e s s t o u s e f u l s er v i c e ? H e n r y F o r d ( 1 8 6 3 - 1 9 4 7 ) : “W e a l t h , l i k e h a p p i n e s s , i s n e v e r a t t a i n ed w h e n s o u g h t a f t e r d i r e c t l y . I t c o m e s a s a b y - p r o d u c t o f providing a useful service.” [111] I s t h a t a r e a s o n a b l e o p t i m i s t i c p e r s on ? D r . K a t h l e e n J e n n i s o n G o o n a n , M . D. : “ Y e s t er d a y ’ s o p t i on s a r e g o n e. ” [ 9 1] Fortunately or unfortunately, graciously or disgracefully, this is now (24/7/365) the name of the game. Dimensional minds? O l i v e r W e n d e l l H o l m e s : “ A m i n d , o n c e s t r et c h ed b y a n e w i d e a , n e v e r r e g a i n s i t s or i g i n a l d i m en s i o n s . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Credit and predictions?
  • 115. 115 L o u i s V G e r s t n e r , J r . F o r m e r C E O , I B M [ 1 4 3 ] : “ N o c r ed i t c an b e g i v e n f o r p r e d i c t i n g r a i n — o n l y f o r b u i l d i n g ar k s . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Knowing Not Knowing? D o n a l d R u m s f e l d : “ A s w e k n o w , t h e r e a r e k n o wn k n o w n s . T h er e are things we know we know. We also know there are known u n k n o w n s . T h a t i s t o s a y w e k n o w t h er e ar e s o m e t h i n g s w e d o n ot k n o w . B u t t h er e a r e a l s o u n k n o wn u n k n o w n s , t h e o n e s w e d o n ’ t k n o w w e d on ’ t k n o w . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Building a bridge? A u t h o r Un k n o w n : “ I f o p p o r t u n i t y d o e s n ’ t k n o c k, b u i l d a d o o r [ y o u c re a t e p r e - c o n d i t i o n s f o r a n d b y y o u ] . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Upping the mind? A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ T h e s i g n i fi c a n t pr o b l e m s w e f ac e c a n n o t b e s o l v e d a t t h e s a m e l e v e l o f t h i n k i n g w e w e r e a t w h en w e c r e a t ed them.” [153] H o w d o y o u d i s t r i b u t e m o d e rn i t y ?
  • 116. 116 W i l l i a m G i b s o n : “ T h e F U T U R E i s a l r e a d y h er e ; i t ’ s j u s t n o t e v e n l y d i s t r i b u t ed . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Orders misunderstood? H e n r y M i l le r : “ C on f u s i o n i s a w or d w e h a v e i n v en t ed f or an or d er w h i c h i s n ot [ y e t ] u n d e r s t o o d . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Progress and crime? A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ T ec h n o l o g i c a l pr o g r e s s i s l i k e a n a x e i n t h e h an d s o f a p at h o l o g i c a l c r i m i n a l. ” [ 1 1 1 ] What stays in place? C h r i s t i a n B o v e e : “ W h e n a l l e l s e i s l o s t , t h e fu t u r e s t i l l r e m a i n s . ” [ 7 1] Faith place in what time frame? R u t h B e n e d i c t : “ O u r f a i t h i n t h e pr e s e n t d i e s o u t l o n g b e f o r e o u r faith in the future.” [71]
  • 117. 117 Fearing what? T h o m a s F u l le r : “ H e t h a t f e a r s t h e fu t u r e m a y e n j o y t h e pr e s e n t . ” [ 7 1] C a l l i n g t h e Fu t u r e w h a t ? T e n n e s s e e W i l l i a m s : “ T h e f u t u r e i s c a l l ed ‘ p e r h a p s , ’ wh i c h i s t h e o n l y p o s s i b l e t h i n g t o c a l l t h e f u t u r e. A n d t h e i m p or t a n t t h i n g i s n ot t o a l l o w t h at t o s c ar e y o u . ” [ 7 1] Having or not having? J a m e s P e t e r s e n : “ I f y o u a f r a i d f or y o u r fu t u r e, y o u d on ’ t h a v e a present.” [71] W h i c h e v i l i s t h e l e a s t w o rs t ? F r a n c e s c o G u i c c i a r d i n i : “ T o r e l i n q u i s h a p r e s e n t g o o d t h r ou g h a p p r e h e n s i on o f a f u t u r e e v i l i s i n m o s t i n st a n c e s u n w i s e … f r o m a f e ar w h i c h m a y a f t er w a r d t u r n o u t g r o u n d l e s s , y o u l o s t t h e g o o d t h a t l a y wi t h i n y o u r g r a s p . ” [ 7 1] H a n d y fu t u r e s ?
  • 118. 118 T h o m a s E . D e w e y : “ W e n e e d n o t b e a f r ai d o f t h e fu t u r e , f o r t h e f u t u r e wi l l b e i n o u r h a n d s . ” [ 7 1 ] Fearing change? E . H . H a r r i m a n : “ I t i s n e v er s a f e t o l o o k i n t o t h e fu t u r e w i t h e y e s o f f e ar . ” [ 7 1] Anxious and miserable? M a r c u s A n n a e s S e n e c a : “ T h e m i n d t h at i s a n xi o u s ab o u t t h e f u t u r e i s mi s e r a b l e . ” [ 7 1 ] A heart and a fear? H e n r y W a d s w o r t h L o n g f e l l o w : “G o f o r t h t o m e et t h e s h a d o w y F u t u r e wi t h ou t f e ar a n d w i t h a m a n l y h e ar t . ” [ 7 1 ] Is the mind wrongly operated? J o h n L o c k e : “ F e ar i s a n u n e a s i n e s s o f t h e mi n d , u p on t h e t h ou g h t of a future evil likely to befall us.” [71]
  • 119. 119 Uncertainties over certainty? W i l l i a m S l o a n e C o f f i n : “ I ’ m d e g l i t c h ed t h a t t h e fu t u r e i s u n su r e . T h a t ’ s t h e w a y i t s h ou l d b e . ” [ 7 1] What is the objective? C l i n i c a l l e a d e r D r . K a t h l e e n J e n n i s o n G o o n a n , M . D . : “T h e g o a l h er e [ i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e t h i r d m i l l en n i u m] i s t o u n d e r s t an d t h e en a b l e r s [ t h e d r i v i n g f or c e s o u t o f w h i c h s o m e fu t u r i s t s c o m f o r t a b l y d ep i c t ‘ t r e n d s ’ — s o - c a l l ed — ] f o r c h a n g e [ p o t en t i a l upsides] as well as the barriers [imminent downsides].” [91] O n w h a t i t m e a n s a n d w h a t i t do e s n o t m e a n t h e t e r m “ d r i v i n g f o r c e s , ” y o u m i g h t w a n t t o v i e w t h e en s u i n g p r e s en t a t i o n , “ T r e n d s V s . D r i v i n g F o r c e s , A C l a r i t y - D r i v e n Pathway Before A Universal Management and Scientific Blunder!” H e r e i t i s a l s o a d d r e s s e d t h e U NI V E R S A L B L U N D E R b y s c i e n t i s t s and managers using the terms “trends” and “driving forces” as e qu a l o n e s . R e a d i t o n l i n e a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / T r e n d s - V s - D r iv i n g - Forces Is the future meant to be bold?
  • 120. 120 A lf r e d N o r t h W h i t e h e a d : “ I t i s t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e f u t u r e t o b e d a n g e r ou s . ” [ 7 1 ] W h a t p u r p o s e t o s et o u t f o r? Robert M. Pirsig: “To live only for some future goal is shallow. I t ’ s t h e s i d e s o f t h e m o u n t a i n t h at s u s t a i n li f e , n ot t h e t o p . ” [ 7 1 ] The advantageous mind? Samuel Johnson: “Present opportunities are n e g l ec t ed , and a t t a i n ab l e g o o d i s s l i g h t ed , b y m i n d s b u si e d i n e xt e n s i v e r an g e s a n d i n t en t u p o n f u t u r e a d v a n t a g e s . ” [ 7 1 ] The mind-hand connection? B . C . F o r b e s : “ O u r f u t u r e a n d ou r f a t e l i e i n ou r w i l l s m o r e t h an i n ou r h an d s , f or o u r h a n d s a r e b u t t h e i n st r u m e n t s o f ou r wi l l s . ” [ 7 1] Who determines what? Is he / she the ignoramus (also known as simpleton)? There are ignoramuses and simpletons — by virtue of emphatic own desires — in both genders.
  • 121. 121 D et e r m i n i n g t h e f u t u r e ? G e r a l d J a m p o l s k y : “ N o w a y e x i s t s i n t h e pr e s e n t t o a c c u r a t e l y d e t er m i n e t h e f u t u r e e f f ec t o f t h e l e a s t o f o u r a c t i o n s . ” [ 7 1] Are you recalling the future? Corrie ten Boom: “Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.” [71] Aching lessons to learn? Hu g h W h i t e : “ W h en y o u m a k e a mi s t a k e , d o n ’ t l o o k b a c k a t i t l on g . T a k e t h e r e a s o n o f t h e t h i n g i n t o y o u r m i n d , a n d t h e n l o o k f o r w ar d . M i s t a k e s a r e l e s s o n s o f w i s d o m . T h e p a s t c an n o t b e c h a n g ed . T h e f u t u r e i s y e t i n y o u r p o w er . ” [ 7 1 ] Every facet of known life is changing so much that it is believed t h a t M r . B i l l G a te s i s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t “ c l o u d c o m p u t i n g ” w h i l e — i n pa r a l l e l ( c o n c u r r e n t l y ) — s o m e pe o p l e s p e a k t o t a p i n t o a pe n t - u p m a r k e t b a s e d o n t h e “ p o s t - M ic r o s o f t w o r l d . ” T h o s e a r e t h e y s a y i n g s i n c o m p u t r o n i u m ’ a n d m u l t i v e r s e ’ s s u r r o u n d i n g s . [ 1 0 1]
  • 122. 122 Imaginary Present and a Fabricated Future? “ T h e p a r t o f E t e r n i t y w i t h s o m e s m a l l f r ac t i on o f w h i c h w e h a v e a s l i g h t a n d r e gr e t t a b l e ac q u a i n t an c e . A m o v i n g li n e c a l l e d t h e P r e s e n t p ar t s i t f r o m a n i m a g i n a r y p er i od k n o w n a s t h e Fu t u r e. T h e s e t w o g r an d d i v i s i on s o f E t e r n i t y , o f w h i c h t h e o n e i s continually effacing the other, are entirely unlike. The one is dark w i t h s o r r o w a n d d i s a p p o i n t m en t , t h e ot h e r b r i g h t w i t h p r o s p e r i t y a n d j o y … . Y e t t h e P a s t i s t h e Fu t u r e o f y e s t e r d a y , t h e F u t u r e i s t h e P a s t o f t o - m or r o w . T h e y a r e o n e — t h e k n o w l ed g e an d t h e dream.” [72] A fightable time? W i l l i a m E . G la d s t o n e ( 1 8 0 9 — 1 8 9 8 ) : “ Y o u c an n ot f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e f u t u r e . T i m e i s o n o u r s i d e . ” [ 7 2] What are you inventing? A la n K a y ( 1 9 4 0 - ) : “ T h e b e s t w a y t o pr e d i c t t h e f u t u r e i s t o i n v en t it.” [72] How far can ever-progressing and ever-diverting changed changes take us?
  • 123. 123 F y o d o r D o s t o e v s k y ( 1 8 2 1 - 1 8 8 1 , R u s s i a n n ov e l i s t ) : “ B u t d o s t t h o u k n o w w h a t wi l l b e t o m o r r o w ? ” [ 1 6 8 ] Change to change what or not to be changed into which? M i la n Ku n d e r a ( 1 9 2 9 - ) : “ T h e o n l y r e a s o n p e o p l e w a n t t o b e masters of the future is to change the past.” [72] D r e a m i n g p r o g r e s s a n d m o d er n i t y ? E l e a n o r R o o s e v e l t : “ T h e f u t u r e b e l o n g s t o t h o s e w h o b el i e v e i n t h e beauty of their dreams.” [73] De-learning for Life? A lv i n T of f l e r : “ I n t h e w o r ld o f t h e fu t u r e , t h e n e w i ll i t er a t e w i l l b e t h e p er s o n w h o h a s n ot l e a r n e d t o l e a r n . ” [ 7 3 ] Guiding to which place? A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ T e a c h er s a r e m e s s e n g e r s fr o m t h e p a s t an d a n e s c or t t o t h e f u t u r e . ” [ 7 3]
  • 124. 124 Geography allocated by times? A l i s o n L u r i e ( 1 9 2 6 - ) : “ A s o n e w e n t t o E u r o p e t o s e e t h e li v i n g p a s t , s o on e m u s t v i s i t S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a t o s e e t h e f u t u r e. ” [ 7 4] History and the train? D w i g h t D a v i d E i s e n h o w e r ( 1 8 9 0 — 1 9 6 9 ) : “ N e i t h er a w i s e m a n n o r a b r a v e m a n l i e s d o w n o n t h e t r ac k s o f h i s t or y t o w a i t f or t h e t r a i n o f t h e f u t u r e t o r u n o v e r h i m . ” [ 7 5] Imprudence? T a c i tu s : “ L i g h t - m i n d e d m e n a r e i m p r o v i d e n t o f t h e f u t u r e . ” [ 7 6 ] Youth and future? F r a n k l y n D e l a n o R o o s e v e l t : “ W e c an n o t a l w a y s b u i ld t h e f u t u r e f o r o u r y o u t h , b u t w e c a n b u i ld o u r y o u t h f o r t h e fu t u r e . ” [ 7 7 ] Forgiveness and future? P a u l B o e s e : “ F or g i v e n e s s d o e s n o t c h an g e t h e p a s t , b u t i t d o e s en l a r g e t h e f u t u r e . ” [ 7 7]
  • 125. 125 Pencil your map? J o n B o n J o v i : “ M a p o u t y o u r fu t u r e , b u t d o i t i n p e n c i l . ” [ 7 7 ] Is everyone for quantitative analysis? D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D . S c . : “ T h e d e s i r a b l e u s e f o r n u m b er s i s l o n g . Y e t v e r y f e w on t h a t l i st ar e f e a s i b l e . A N Y T H I N G I N V O L V I N G HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS S U F FI C I E N T L Y COMPLEX T H AT A DISCRETE NUMBER CANNOT BE TIED TO IT.” [99] Future and responsibility? G e o r g e B e rn a r d S h a w : “ W e ar e m ad e wi s e n ot b y t h e r ec o l l e c t i o n o f ou r p a s t , b u t b y t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r ou r fu t u r e . ” [ 7 7 ] Future and humankind? R i c h a r d P . F e y n m a n : “ W e a r e at t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g o f t i m e f o r t h e human race. It is n ot unreasonable t h at we grapple with p r o b l e m s . B u t t h e r e a r e t en s o f t h ou s a n d s o f y e a r s i n t h e f u t u r e . O u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s t o d o wh a t w e c a n , l e a r n w h a t w e c a n , i mp r o v e t h e s o l u t i on s , a n d p a s s t h e m o n . ” [ 1 2 1 ]
  • 126. 126 H e r m a n K a h n : “ P r o j ec t i n g a p er s u a s i v e i m a g e o f a d e s i r a b l e an d practical future is e xt r e m e l y i m p o r t an t to high m o r a l e, to d yn a m i s m , t o c o n s e n s u s , a n d i n g e n er a l t o h e l p t h e w h e e l s o f society turn smoothly.” [122] Time and definitions? Charles C a le b Colton: “Time is the most indefinable yet p ar a d o x i c a l o f t h i n g s ; t h e p a s t i s g on e , t h e f u t u r e i s n o t t o c o m e , a n d t h e p r e s e n t b ec o m e s t h e p a s t e v e n w h i l e w e a t t e m p t t o d e fi n e i t , an d , l i k e t h e f l a s h o f l i g h t n i n g , a t on c e e xi s t s a n d e x p i r e s . ” [ 7 7 ] CITIZENS MUST COME TOGETHER ON THIS CA U S E UNEQUIVOCALLY AND WITH THE GREATEST SENSE OF U RG E N C Y , D I L I G E N T U R G E N C Y O F E P I C P R O P O R T I O N S . P e o p l e m u s t b e c o m e m i n d - p r e pa r e d a n d e v e r - r e a d y a s pe r m y f i r m e s t c o n v i c t i o n i n c a s e t h e y a g r e e u p o n c ou n t e r i n g s o m e downside consequences from massive change and upping further some upside facets of said massive change. Ca n an entire civilization possess “free will in group”? Really?
  • 127. 127 One of the most important French-Canadian premiers, to this end, m a k e s a n a we s o m e q u o t a t i o n . P i e r r e T r u d e a u ( 1 9 1 9 — 2 0 0 0) : “T h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y r e a l l y b e l o n g s t o t h o s e w h o wi l l b u i l d i t . T h e f u t u r e c a n b e p r o m i s e d t o n o o n e. ” [ 7 0 ] T H I S I S , P E R H A P S , T H E R E A L D E A L . I t’ s t i m e ( a s i t s e e m s t o m e after deeply researching the subject for almost 30 years), through s p r i t s d e c o r p s - b a s e d t a le n t e d t e a m s o f “ r i v a l s , ” t o i n s t i t u t e t h e systemic, systematic, before-the facts manner, holistic stewardship ( t h u s e x e r c i s i n g a g l o b a l m a n a g e m e n t p e r s p e c t i v e ) o f U PS I D E A N D D OW N S I D E R I S K S M A N A G E M E N T v ia e p i d e m i o l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g à la Gestalt with the omniscience vista << http://slidesha.re/omisci >>. A l b e r t E i n s t e i n h e n c e i n d i c a t e s : “I t ' s n o t t h at I ' m s o s m a r t , i t ' s just that I stay with problems longer.” [61] THE MORE THE SO-CALLED CRISES HAPPEN, THE MORE THE EMPIRICAL-AND-OTHERWISE PROGRESSIONS OF APPLIED “ S T A T E S O F T H E A R T ” W I L L R E G I S T E R W I T H O UT A F AI L , B OT H IN THE FOREGROUND AND B AC K G R O U N D , AS WELL AS UBIQUITOUSLY. “ U B I Q U I T O US L Y ” NOW EQUATES TO THE ENTIRETY OF THE UNIVERSE, LITERALLY.
  • 128. 128 The word “Ubiquitous” here might mean any dynamic contexts b e t w e e n t h e f o r e g r o u n d a n d t h e b a c k g r o u n d ( a l l u d e d a b o v e ) . T he r e w i l l b e t e n s i o n e x e r c i s e d t h e r e b y . T he q u e s t i o n i s , W i l l t h a t b e “creative tension” at all? What might the human race get in exchange while implementing a l l - en c o m p a s s i n g MANAGEMENT (all chapters thoroughly) via a compound, all-solutions toolkit, r o u t e d w i t h t h e e n v i s i o n i n g a n d i n s t i t u t i n g o f t h e o pt i m a l t o t a l i t y - o f - k n o w l e d g e ? H ow ? By operating the mind and the brains-driven business “battlefield” ( j u s t a s t r a t u m a m o n g z i l l i o n s t r a t a ) w i t h T H E C OM B I N E D , INDUSTRIOUS ASSISTANCE OF OMNISCIENCE, PANSOPHY, POLYMATH, ALL-KNOWINGNESS, AND PANTOLOGY. To access to more insight on the terminology used in this pa r a g r a p h , g o t o t h e O m n i s c i e n c e s e c t i o n f o r a t h o r o u g h a c t i o n a b l e description. Omniscience at << http://slidesha.re/omisci >>. If we discipline ourselves, What can we get in return? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r i n d i c a t e d : “ T h e r e a r e g r e at h a z a r d s b y N a t u r e . T h e r e a r e a l s o g r e at h a z a r d s
  • 129. 129 t h a t ar e m a n - m a d e . T h e m a j or i t y o f t h e s e o n e s i m p ac t s N a t u r e itself. T h r ou g h s c i en c e, t ec h n o l o g y and management (all c h a p t er s ) , t h e p r a c t i t i o n e r c a n t r an s f o r m d o w n s i d e s a n d u p s i d e s i n t o gr e a t e r b en e f i t s , r e g a r d l e s s i f h a z a r d s ar e p r e s e n t e d b y N a t u r e a n d h u m a n s . A s e e m i n g l y ' g o o d s a f e e x e c u t i o n ' c a n b ec o m e e a s i l y c o m p ou n d i n t o a g r e at e r p er i l ou s s i t u at i o n . A l ac k o f ' o p t i m u m s a f e e x e c u t i o n ' c an b ec o m e e a s i l y c o m p o u n d i n t o a g r e at e r perilous s i t u at i o n . A seemingly 'sub-optimum safe e x ec u t i o n ' c an b e c o m e e a s i l y c o m p ou n d i n t o a g r e at e r p er i l ou s s i t u a t i o n . T h e s e h a z a r d s c an b e s u s t a i n a b l y t r an s f o r m e d i n t o b e n e f i t s t h r ou g h t h e p e r en n i a l a p p li c a t i o n o f t h e m a x i m u m w i t h i n t h e o p t i m u m o f t h o r ou g h l y c o m pr e h e n s i v e r i s k m a n a g e m e n t . ” [129] We can still exercise many civil rights before some transbiologicals and robots take over as long as the “caveat” here described does n o t t a k e p r e c e d e n c e i n t h e f i r s t p la c e . W i l l y o u s t a y a s a n i n n o c e n t a n d n a ï v e a “ b y s t a n d e r ” f o r h o w l o n g in o r d e r t o f u r t h e r empowering the own state of increasing powerless quality and condition (that of you)? What are we?
  • 130. 130 William Shakespeare: “We know what we are, but know not what w e m a y b e . ” [ 1 4 2] Machines h a r n es s i n g the monopoly of pervasive intelligence? I rv i n g J o h n G o o d : “ L e t a n u lt r a i n t e l li g e n t m a c h i n e b e d e f i n e d a s a m a c h i n e t h a t c an su r p a s s a l l t h e i n t e l l ec t u a l a c t i v i t i e s o f an y m a n however clever. Since the design of machines is one of these i n t e l l e c t u a l a c t i v i t i e s , a n u l t r a i n t e l l i g e n t m ac h i n e c o u ld d e s i g n e v e n b e t t er m a c h i n e s ; t h er e w ou l d t h e n u n q u e s t i o n a b l y b e a n ‘ i n t e l l i g e n c e e x p l o s i o n , ’ a n d t h e i n t e l l i g en c e o f m an w ou l d b e l e ft f a r b e h i n d . T h u s t h e f i r s t u lt r a i n t e l li g e n t m a c h i n e i s t h e l a s t i n v e n t i o n t h a t m an n e ed e v e r m a k e . ” [ 1 4 2 ] Will humans be subjects to monarchical bots? P e t e r M e n z e l a n d F a i t h D ’ A l u i s i o : “ A r ou n d t h e w o r l d , s c i e n t i s t s a n d e n g i n e e r s a r e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a h i g h - s t a k e s r ac e t o b u i l d t h e f i r s t i n t e l l i g en t r ob o t . M a n y r o b ot s a l r e ad y e x i s t ─ a u t o m o b i l e f ac t o r i e s ar e f u l l o f t h e m . B u t t h e n e w g e n er a t i on o f r ob o t s w i l l b e s o m e t h i n g e l s e : s m a r t m ac h i n e s t h a t a c t e v e r m o r e l i k e li v i n g c r e a t u r e s … . W h a t wi l l h a p p en t h e n ? W i t h o u r p r o s t h e t i c li m b s , t i t an i u m h i p s , an d ar t i f i c i a l e y e s , w e a r e a lr e a d y b e gi n n i n g t o
  • 131. 131 r e s e m b l e o u r m a c h i n e s . A n d w h e n w e i m p l a n t c h i p s i n o u r b od i e s t o c o n n ec t o u r s e l v e s d i r e c t l y t o c o m p u t e r s , t h e l i k e n e s s w i l l b e c o m e o n l y m or e p r o n o u n c ed . S c i en c e f i c t i on wi l l h a v e b e c o m e s c i e n c e f ac t … . M e a n w h i l e ─ a n d e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t ─ o u r m a c h i n e s ar e b e gi n n i n g t o r e s e m b l e u s . R o b ot i c s p i d er s , c r a b s , g ec k o s , a n d d o g s a r e a l r e a d y s p i l l i n g f r o m t h e l ab o r a t o r i e s . T h e n e x t s t e p s a r e t o r e - c r e a t e H o m o s a p i en s i t s e l f an d t h en g o b e y o n d . R o b o t s c an a l r e a d y w a l k , t a l k , a n d d a n c e ; t h e y c a n r e a c t t o h u m a n f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s a n d ob e y v e r b a l c o m m a n d s . W h e n s c i e n t i s t s g o o n t o c r e a t e fu l l y a u t o n o m o u s r ob o t s w i t h g r e a t er i n t e l l i g e n c e t h a n h u m a n b ei n g s , wi l l t h e y b e o u r p ar t n e r s or ou r r i v a l s ? W i l l i t b e a s i m p l y a r ob o t i c r e v o l u t i o n o r a t r u e e x t e n s i o n o f e v o l u t i o n ? C o u l d m ac h i n e s a n d h u m a n k i n d m e l d i n t o a s i n g l e s p e c i e s ─ R o b o s a p i en s ? ” [ 1 6 4 ] For those seeking that — r eg a r d l e s s of complexity — l i n k i n g p o i n t s b e t w e e n m a c h i n e s a n d h u m a n s , a n En g l i s h mathematician has a word of reflection. A la n Turing ( h t t p : / / e n . w i k i p e d i a . o r g / w i k i / A l l a n _T u r i n g ): “A c o m p u t er w o u l d d e s e r v e t o b e c a l l e d i n t e ll i g e n t i f i t c ou l d d e c e i v e a human into believing that it was human.” [100]
  • 132. 132 W ha t i s t h e g o o d n e w s , i f a t t e n t i o n i s in d e e d pa i d t o w o r l d - c la s s , “cross-pollinated and cross-referenced research” literature driven b y s c i e n t i f i c i n q u i r y , r e s e a r c h , a n d in v e n t i o n , a s w e l l a s b y a n obstinate search of ultimate truth? T h e c u r r e n t c i v i l i za t i o n c a n i n c r e a s e U P S I D E R I S K S ( b e n e f i t s ) a n d simultaneously mitigate and terminate and modulate DOWNSIDE R I S K S ( d i s r u p t i o n s ) , s o m e e x i s t e n t i a l a n d o t h e r s n o t . I n c i d e n ta l l y , one situation that does compound heavily (into terra incognita) is that of risks. C L E A R L Y , E V E R Y O N E O N E A R T H M US T W O R K U N D E R T H E R O G U E R U L I N G O F T H E U L T I M AT E . U p s i d e a n d d o w n s i d e r i s k s a re p r o m o t e d b y d e e d s o f h u m a n s a n d a c t s o f N a t u r e . M a n y t i m e s the human lack of countering the risks by the acts of Nature b e c o m e s e v e n m o r e c r i t i c a l. Risks — upside and downside ones — are the result of a continuum by “changed changes” points of inflection marshaled through a m u l t i t u d e o f f l u x e s a n d f l o w s . B y t h e w a y, t h e r e i s a p l e t h o r a o f Risk Management’s “countermeasures” with an ugly existential problem.
  • 133. 133 T h o s e “ c o u n t e r m e a s u r e s ” a re d e s i g n e d t h r o u g h l i n e a r m i n d s i n a world plagued of hyper-exponential geometrical discontinuities. I t’ s w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t s i n c e t h e r e a re d e g r e e s o f r i s k , t h e r e a r e degrees of safety.” Diversity, by the way, when properly integrated and aligned ( a l i g n m e n t o f h u m a n a n d ma t e r i e l r e s o u r c e s ) , b e g e t s b r e a k t h r o u g h innovation. QUESTION: WHICH PATH / ROUTE WILL THE PROFESSIONAL, BY-OWN-DESIRE I G N O R AN T , LAZY, M I S T A K E N , I GN O M I N I O U S , IN D O L EN T , AN D C O R R U P T ED ONES TAKE? REMEMBER, “ONE CANNOT GET TO A NEW PLACE WITH AN OLD MAP.” Just might need a GPS and SAT-phone with an Internet hot- swappable connector. The supine ignoramuses (also known as s i m p l e t o n s ) a re s a v a n t s in p i c k in g t o a v o i d a n d d o w n p l a y e v e r y form of reality. They will be calling names the “reality facer.” The finest d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n w o u l d b e t h e c a l l i n g h i m a n d h e r n e g a t iv i s t s a n d pe s s i m i s t i c s . T h e f i n e s t d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n w o u l d b e t h e c a l l i n g h i m and her negativists and pessimistic.
  • 134. 134 I s a w a n i n t e r v i e w b y a s u r v iv o r o f t h e H o l o c a u s t . S h e c l e a r l y s t a t e d t h a t b e i n g i m m e n s e l y pe s s i m i s t i c s a v e d t h e l iv e s o f t h o s e s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h w h i l e t h e o p t i m i s t i c o n e s w e r e b u r n e d in m a n - m a d e He l l w i t h o u t a f a i l . I n s p e a k in g o f y o u r p e r s o n a l c a p i ta l , I a m e x a c t l y r e f e r r i n g t o t h e in one held and treasured in your brain while the entirety of other o u t s t a n d i n g s u b - s y s t e m s ( su c h a s h e a r t , lu n g s , k i d n e y s , l i v e r) o p e r a t e e x a c t l y a s t h e l i f e - s u p p o r t i v e a p pa r a t u s e s . A n y w a y , “ T H E E M P I R E S O F T H E F UT U R E A R E T H E E M P I R E S O R «MONARCHICAL STRATA» OF THE MIND” (Churchill). [111] HOW H AV E THE R E A D ER EXERCISED RADIANT AN D PERVASIVE MIND EXPANSION LATELY, LATELY TOWARDS FOREVER AND EVER? The Human Race has always longed for progress, ultimately upping its living standards for centuries, while ignoring the concomitant daring sequels, responsibilities and liabilities. You engage in mind e x p a n s i o n s e r i o u s l y a n d s u s t a i n a b l y t o e x t e n d a n d e x pa n d y o u r wise and clever executions.
  • 135. 135 I n c i d e n ta l l y , this is not the taken-for-granted “Society Of Knowledge” (that also embraces the “infotech economy”) for free (that is exactly to say that it is not gratuitous at all). It is especially expensive, since one must mortgage their intellectual capital endlessly and to the utmost and for good, every second and for Life. L u c k i l y , I d i d n o t g i v e b i r t h t o h o m i n i d s v e ry m u c h t o m y f o r t u n e and relief, nor consider myself the supreme intelligence in the u n i v e r s e ( le t ’ s j u s t a b i d e b y f a c t s a n d f i g u r e s a n d p r e t e r - n a t u r a l i s t thinking, as an amicable unasked suggestion); Primates (including pre-humans and current humans) were occupying the land and wandering around, intrigued by copious wonders. A m i n d p lu s A b o d y p lu s a n o p p o s i t i o n a l f i n g e r ( t h u m b ) p lu s a r o c k c a n e qu a t e t o a g r e a t d e a l o f f i n e a n d t e r r i b l e w e a p o n i z e d artifacts. In beyond stupidity and after over four billion of evolution, we h u m a n s c a n n o t l i v e w i t h o u t e x e r c i s i n g o u r m i n d i n t h e a p pa l l i n g l i n e a r w o r l d a s w e f a c e a w o r l d o f m a x i m u m n o n - l in e a r i t y a n d multi-bumping by a multitude of discontinuous forces, forces that ever and ever growing more addicted to discontinuity.
  • 136. 136 Those, today, gain critical mass easily when the 7-billion souls w i s h t o b r e a t h e a n d m a k e a l iv i n g a n d e n j o y s o m e w o r l d - c la s s l if e s t a n d a r d s , l i t e r a l l y “ d e l u x e. ” T he a da g e , “ o n e t h i n g a t t h e t i m e ” w i l l N O W b e r e p la c e d b y “ A P L E N T I F U L , F O R E V E R F L U I D L Y O N G O I N G C L U S T E R / B U N C H O F D R AM A T I C T H I N G S I N R E A L TIME AND ALL OF THE REAL-TIME TIME.” W e h a v e b e e n c a l l e d t o r e v o l t a n d a c t u p o n m a n y in t e g r a t e d techniques and methods and practices compatible with a t e c h n o c r a t i c r e v o l u t i o n b y t h e h u ma n e t h a t c a n n o t r i d h i s / h e r i n d i s p e n s a b l e m i n d p r e p a r e d n e s s . B u t t o g e t t h e m a x i mu m o u t pu t , t h e m u s i c a l m u s t b e c h o r e o g r a p h e d a n d , a b o v e a l l, a c te d b a s e d o n sprits de corps’ unanimity. In the mean time we are having tons of fun by showing off our collective un-preparedness until an “extrasolar typhoon,” sort of s p e a k , h i t s n e x t o n t o a n e n s u in g p o i n t o f in f l e c t i o n i n c o s m o s . Only you make your own: conclusions, ideas, plans, findings, professional/organizational ethos and points of view. If your e t h o s , z e i t g e i s t pe r c e p t i o n a n d W e l t a n s c h a u u n g s n e e d o r n o t radical upgrading, these will only be solved or not by you (being in itself in a problem or blessing before you and of your sole c o n c e r n ) , a s w e l l a s b y t h e a c c o m p a n y in g c i rc u m s t a n c e s ( p r e -
  • 137. 137 c o n d i t i o n s a n d c o n d i t i o n s ) t h a t k n o w i n g l y o r u n kn o w i n g l y y o u bestow upon yourself. What are we going to do with our customary system of belief, ethos and Weltanschauung? A b r a h a m L i n c o l n ( 1 8 0 9 – 1 8 6 5 , 1 6 t h P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U. S . ) : “T h e d o g m a s o f t h e q u i et p a s t a r e i n ad e q u at e t o t h e s t or m y pr e s e n t . ” pr [153] The ultimate objective is for the reader (if he / she is by his / her o w n w i l l i n f a c t r e a d i n g ) t o a c c e s s in s i g h t s t o a s k a n d w o r k ( f o r and by himself and herself) through each one’s own conclusions, t h u s c o p i n g b e t t e r w i t h t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f t h e T h i r d M i l l e n n iu m . T ru s t n o o n e , t h o u g h y o u j u s t m i g h t a t t e m p t t o t r u s t y o u ? CHAPTER 1 PROLOGUE Is the future a function of the present or is the present a function o f t h e f u t u r e ? W h a t d o p r e s e n t a n d f u tu r e m e a n i n p r a c t i c a l i t y r e g a r d i n g b u s i n e s s , p r o f e s s i o n , e d u c a t i o n , p o l i t i c s ( i n c lu d i n g m o s t universal realpolitik geopolitics), society (understanding the granularity of details ingrained in matter-of-fact demographics),
  • 138. 138 i n du s t r y , m a r k e t s , a s w e l l a s i n r e g a r d s t o e me r g i n g s c i e n c e a n d technology? In this sense, George Orwell (1903 - 1950) indicated: “Who c o n t r o l s t h e p a s t c o n t r o l s t h e f u t u r e. W h o c o n t r o l s t h e pr e s e n t c o n t r o l s t h e p a s t . ” [ 6 9 ] An d D a v i d Hu m e ( 1 7 1 1 — 1 7 7 6 ) l i k e w i s e stated: “The supposition that the future resembles the past, is not f ou n d ed o n a r g u m en t s o f a n y k i n d , b u t i s d er i v e d e n t i r e l y fr o m h ab i t . ” [ 6 9] W h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t t i m e c o m p a r t m e n t a l i z a t i o n ( su c h a s F u tu r e , P r e s e n t a n d P a s t ) a re w e h o n o r i n g t h e i n s t i t u t e d a p p r o a c h b y D r . Albert Einstein? Since time is never dislocated from “mass” and “energy,” Are we, in pronouncing these profound dynamic concepts, allocating correlative “volumes” of (a) Mass and (b) E n e r g y f o r t h e t i m e s c o m p a r t m e n t a l i z e d a n d t e r m e d : Fu t u r e , Present and Past? We aren’t, Are we? W h y a r e w e “f r u s t r a t e d ” w h e n we g e t s t r a t e g i c a l l y s u r p r i s e d beyond devastation and mayhem by crystallized “disruption p o t e n t i a l s ” t u r n e d i n t o p a l p a b l e n i g h t m a r e s if w e a r e f a i l i n g t o d o o u r s o l e l y o w n h o m e w o r k w e d i s l i k e bu t w e n e e d t o s u r v iv e s o dearly?
  • 139. 139 L i v i n g a n d h a v i n g l o t s o f f u n b y s u pe r f l u o u s m o d u s v i v e n d i w i l l secure the modus operandi through Apocalypses. We always have t h e c h a n c e t o c o u n t e r s e v e r a l h a za r d s b u t w e m u s t c o m e t o g e t h e r as a global society. Don't worry about the Universe; it'll go in its business-as-usual mode untouchably and invariably. A lv i n T of f l e r o f f e r s s o m e i n s i g h t : “ T h e F U T U R E a l w a y s c o m e s t o o f a s t an d i n t h e wr o n g o r d e r [ e x p e c t e d b y t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f m i n d f u l o r ab s e n t / mi n d e d ‘ i n c u m b en t s ’ ] . ” [ 1 7 ] T h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t m a n y i n c u m b e n t s f e e l s o u n - in c u m b e n t t h o u g h a t a l a t e r o n e r o u s price. In a continuous dialogue about massive change, Toffler adds: A lv i n T o f f l e r ( 1 9 2 8 - ) : “ … ‘ F u t u r e S h o c k ’ … t h e s h a t t er i n g s t r e s s a n d d i s o r i en t a t i o n t h a t w e i n d u c e i n i n d i v i d u a l s b y s u b j e c t i n g t h e m t o t o o mu c h c h a n g e i n t o o s h o r t a t i m e … T h e d i z z y i n g d i s o r i en t a t i o n b r ou g h t o n b y pr e m a t u r e ar r i v a l o f t h e f u t u r e … . ” [17] Why is this FUTURE different to others? Why is change so pe r v a s i v e , m a s s i v e , u b i qu i t o u s a n d f r e n z y ? W h y i s t h i s e v e r - c ha n g i n g r a t e o f c ha n g e e n t a i l i n g d i f f e r e n c e a n d n e w n e s s a n d w h a t
  • 140. 140 a re t h e r e s p e c t i v e c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d s e q u e l s u n a v o i d a b l y a f f e c t i n g our lives? W ha t a r e t h e i m p e r a t i v e s w e m u s t s u p e r l a t iv e m i c r o - a n d m a c r o - m a n a g e t o c o p e t o s u s t a i n a b l y a n d s u f f ic i e n t l y p r e v a i l a s a H U M A N RACE? H o w c a n w e g a i n a v a n t a g e p o s i t i o n a n d b e n e f i t f r o m s u c h f u tu r e s a n d c ha n g e s ? H o w c a n w e “ u p s i d e ” s t r a t e g i c p e r i l s a l o n g t h e t i m e s t o c o m e w h i l e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y “ d o w n s i d e ” e v e n tu a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s , thus combining both “outputted” advents into a maximum optimum a da p t a t i o n ? Why will this FUTURE unveil the ill and flawed considerations in greatly hidden, misunderstood and largely “socially engineered” fallacies, assumptions, conventions, beliefs and misconceptions? A l l o f t h i s a c tu a l l y g o i n g a t a ra t e o f s t a g g e r i n g u n i v e r s a l v e l o c i t y t o t h e le a s t e x t e n t ( b o t h g e o g r a p h i c a l l y a n d d e m o g r a p h i c a l l y ) , w h i l e D A R P A ( T he D e f e n s e A d v a n c e d Re s e a r c h P r o j e c t s A g e n c y i s a n a g e n c y o f t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s D e pa r t m e n t o f D e f e n s e r e s p o n s i b l e for the development of new technology for use by the military) greatly to my innermost gusto and own entertainment is s t u b b o r n l y d r i v e n t o “ l o v i n g ” d e f y in g ( d e f i a n c e ) a n d d i s r u p t i n g
  • 141. 141 (disruption) in “empirical,” yet “rampant” labs to “counter” and p r o v e “ w r o n g ” s o - c a l l e d “ i m m u t a b l e ” c l a s s i c la w s o f p h y s i c s e v e r y day, literally. DARPA, the entity that spinned off an agency termed “NASA” and c re a t e d g l o r i o u s I n t e r n e t , e x h i b i t s a m o s t l u c i d m a x i m : “I f y o u ’ r e n ot f a i l i n g f r e q u en t l y , y o u a r e n ot s u c c e ed i n g e n o u g h . ” A l b e r t E i n s t e i n s u p p o r t i n g D A R P A ’ s m o t i o n in d i c a t e s : “I f at fi r s t a n i d e a d o e s n ot s o u n d a b s u r d , t h e n t h e r e i s n o h o p e f o r i t . ” [ 1 6 7 ] I f t h i r t y y e a r s a g o D A R P A , L o s A la m o s N a t i o n a l L a b o r a t o r i e s , NASA, National Foundation of Science et a l. had been commissioned with the invention of massive and abundant “green energy,” we could all now protect much better our environment ( a n d p o s s i b l y h a d r e d u c e d t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e c l i ma t e g l o b a l c r i s i s ) , a s we l l a s e n j o y i n g p l e n t i f u l s o u r c e s o f r e l ia b l e e n e r g y . How could this have been achieved then? By appointing an initiative within the tradition of the Manhattan Project, the Apollo Program and the Genome project. A s c i v i l i za t i o n s w e h a v e t h e r i g h t t o m a k e e x t r e m e b l u n d e r s a s w e l l as to be held liable (knowingly or not) for the inherent in
  • 142. 142 consequences and sequels. Isn’t there the national security of e v e r y c ou n t r y t h r e a t e n e d n o w ? Can we seriously and pr o f e s s i o n a l l y (that is, without deceiving) speak of “success appropriating” W IT H O U T STRONGLY R EV I E W I N G FAILURES AND, ABOVE ALL, A D D R E S S I N G T H E N A N O - G R A N U L A R I T Y O F Y O U R R IV A L S C O M P R E H EN S I V E L Y A N D I N A D V A N C E ? I n d e e d ? W h y d o n ’ t w e le a r n l e s s o n s o f w i s d o m b y t h i r d p a r t i e s ? I s i t b e c a u s e w e a r e t o o bu s y i n t r y i n g t o f i gu r e o u t s e l f - e s t e e m s “ i s s u e s ” w h i c h a re e f f i c a c i o u s in c l o u d i n g o u r m i n d s ? W ha t a r e t h e n e w h i g h - t e c h d e i t i e s i n t h e “ w a r p e d pa s s a g e s ” b l o c k ? I s t h i s t h e F U T U R E w e h a v e c h o s e n n o t t o s t a r t c r e a t iv e l y i m a g i n i n g t o t h e f u l le s t i n t h e P R E S E N T e a r l y o n ? T h e F U T U R E i s t h a t u n i m p e a c h a b l e r e a l t h i n g , I sn ' t i t ? M a n y pe o p l e h a v e h u g e d i f f i c u l t y u n d e r s t a n d i n g t i m e p r o g r e s s i o n and the strategic surprises that said progression fosters sometimes b e y o n d c r e a t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n . H u m a n r i g h t s , a s w e l l, m i g h t e a s i l y u n d e r g o r e t r o g r e s s i o n w i t h t h e in c e s s a n t p r o g r e s s i o n o f t i m e anyway, believe it or not!
  • 143. 143 I t i s a t t r i b u t e d t o J e f f I m m e l t , G E’ s c u r r e n t C E O , t h e f o l l o w i n g : “ … p o s t 9 / 1 1 i s a d i f f e r e n t w o r l d … ” [ 4 2] T h i s t r a g i c m i l e s t o n e a l o n e w i l l p l a y t h r o u g h t i m e s in f o r c e f u l ma n n e r s u p t o a c t u a l t i m e horizons. Reversing or smartly modulating the consequences will take a g a r g a n t u a n e f f o r t b y e v e r y c o n s t i t u e n t in E a r t h ’ s c iv i l i z a t i o n , w h e t h e r h u n g r y o r f u lf i l l e d , w h e t h e r t h i r s t y o r s a t i s f i e d , w h e t h e r sophisticated, educated or illiterate, whether old or young. I r e a l l y h o p e t h a t t h o s e n o t b e l i e v i n g s u c h a c la i m t o m a ke a t h o r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g q u i c k l y. T h i s m a t e r i a l i s b o u n d t o h e l p i n g in that direction and ipso facto offering unique and unprecedented insights. Subsequently, in today’s world, timidity and fear are serious competitive liabilities. Coming times, upcoming times, f o r t h c o m i n g t i m e s , f u tu r e t i m e s w i l l p r o v e t h e m s e l v e s r u t h l e s s i n t h e c on t i n u u m k n o w n a s P R E S E N T w i t h o u t a f a i l . W h a t a r e w e c o m p e t i n g f o r ? W e a r e c o m p e t i n g f o r t h e p r e v a i l i n g o f o u r l iv e s with dignity, Aren’t we? I n i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e P R E S E N T a n d t h e F U T U R E ( a n d t h e f lu i d interrelationship between the two), W ha t rolls a re they
  • 144. 144 respectively impersonating to gain us further insight? This is a s t r o n g - s e n s e a n d c r i t i c o - c re a t i v e d i s c e r n m e n t t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e e v e r - c h a l l e n g i n g n a tu r e a n d a n a t o m y o f c h a n g e i n e v e r y f a c e t o f Hu m a n L i f e ! In order to appreciate time progression and its beyond geometrical n o n - l i n e a r q u a l i t y , C a n w e e s t a b l i s h a c c u ra t e p a r a l l e l i s m s w i t h m e t a p h o r i c a n d n o t s o m e t a p h o r i c ( ye t m o s t a c c u r a t e ) t e r m s t o b e t t e r e n l i g h t e n o u r m i n d s w i t h la c k i n g o p t i m u m r i g o r ? Why do we humans, ma r s h a l i n g through such a massive technological progression, readily wish to subject our existence to retrogression by choosing not to recognize grave and yet subtle forces that redefine it all? I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , t h e F UT U R E i s n o t f o r t h e f a i n t h e a r t e d . S ta t e d s i m p l y , b e i t k n o w n t h a t t h e s c a l e , s c o p e a n d m a g n i t u d e o f the FUTURES are impossible to overstate. T h e P R E S E N T i s s o p l a y f u l a n d n a ïv e j u s t g a m i n g i n a re n a s w h o s e sole proprietor is the omni-mode ruling monarchical FUTURE. A s t h e P R E S E N T c a r r i e s o n j u s t a c t i n g s e r i a l l y ( n o t c o p in g w i t h a l l simultaneously but just gradually and in immersed ill
  • 145. 145 randomness), the FUTURE ascertains every impending deed simultaneously. I n i n s t i t u t i n g b e s t a n a l y z e s a n d c ou n t e r i n g t h e D O W N S I D E S a n d leveraging the UPSIDES, the optimum analyzes are those i n du s t r i o u s l y p o n d e r e d b y : ( 1) p r e f ac t o ( b e f o r e t h e f a c t s ) , ( 2 ) a p r i o r i ( a f o r m o f b e f o r e t h e f a c t s ) , ( 3) pr e - m or t e m ( m u c h b e f o r e m o r t e m o r b e f o r e p o s t - m o r t e m ) , a n d ( 4) a p o s t er i o r i . Back in 1985, as I was starting to manage large operational pe t r o l e u m r i s k s — a l o n g w i t h t h e r i s k s e m b o d i e d b y s o m e f o r t y thousand employees with one hundred six thousand direct “eligible d e p e n d e n t s ” — ( re f i n e r y , in s t a l l a t i o n s , we l l s , m a r i t i m e f le e t s ) — including the immense risks of oil refinery number one and oil r e f i n e r y n u m b e r t h r e e a s pe r w o r l d w i d e s t a n d a r d s , I s t a r t e d a s k i n g m y s e l f h o w I c ou l d f o r e s e e s o m e o f t h a t p o t e n t i a l d i s r u p t i o n ( c l e a r l y , e a r l y o n a n d f o r f u tu r e c a s e s ) t o a v o i d i t o r m i t i g a t e i t somewhat. During operational meetings — seeking to seize an all- e n c o m p a s s i n g o v e r v i e w f o r g r a v e r i s k s — t h e r e wa s g o i n g o n a l e n g t h y a n d d e t a i le d d i s c u s s i o n o f n o v e l wa y s t o m a n a g e a n d t o m a n a g e r i s k s . T he n o r t h w a s ( a ) t o t h i n k “ o u t o f t h e b o x , ” a n d ( b )
  • 146. 146 to discern and execute multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary efforts. This profound dialogue was increasingly energized and re- energized (even in extramural meetings) while previous managers of Royal Dutch/Shell, Exxon, Standard Oil, Conoco-Phillips, S ta t o i l , T o t a lf i n a , really b e l ie v e d in p r e c lu d e insurance and r e i n s u ra n c e p r o g r a m s f r o m b e i n g a p r e s s i n g “ b l a c k b o x . ” S i n c e t h e n a n d i n m y c a se , I h a v e e x pa n d e d a n d e x t e n d e d t h a t exercise in what I believe is a considerable degree, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Back in those days (and in my case, incessantly until know), we were managing extremely complex and large risks of industrial operations, logistics, information technology, “loss c on t r o l , ” i n du s t r i a l safety, quality assurance, “directors and o f f ic e r s , ” “errors and omissions,” as well as the health and protection of a n u m e r o u s h e a d c ou n t s r u n n i n g — i n m y d i r e c t c h a r g e — u p t o 50,000 employees with the concomitant eligible dependents to add u p t o a f i n a l t o t a l o f a b o u t 2 1 0 , 0 0 0 pe o p l e .
  • 147. 147 T h o s e i n d u s t r i a l o p e r a t i o n s i n c lu d e d f l e e t s o f a m u l t i t u d e o f r o a d vehicles, oil tanker vessels, and aircrafts (including ports, take- o f f / l a n d i n g r u n w a y s , e t c . f o r t h e r e s p e c t iv e a l lu d e d v e h i c le s ) . During those years and on, one thing was certain for these c o m p a n i e s w h o s e S he l l , E x x o n a n d S t a n d a r d O i l o p e r a t i o n s w e r e m e r g e d i n t o a n i n t e g r a t e d g r o u p w i t h t h e s e c o n d la r g e s t r a n k i n g in the world. T i r e d o f t h e la c k o f c r e a t i v i t y o f i n s u r a n c e a n d r e i n s u r a n c e providers for the multinational corporations — dealing with these g l o b a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s i f t h e y w e r e “ p e t t y ” p e r s o n a l r i s k s —, t o p management systematically encouraged for everyone (including e x t e r n a l c on s u l t a n t s ) t o r e a l l y t h i n k “ o u t o f t h e b o x , ” w h i l e l e a r n i n g le s s o n s f r o m o w n i n d u s t r i e s , b u t a l s o f r o m “ o u t s i d e r ” and/or outlying industries. I n a c tu a l i t y , t h i s e n c o u r a g e m e n t w a s u n n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e o u r joint minds were “boiling” in seeking, researching, testing, and experimenting with new ideas. The quality and reliability engineering movement was studied in great depth as well.
  • 148. 148 Many seminars, workshops and presentations were taking place a m o n g u s, b o t h i n t e r n a l l y a n d e x t r a m u r a l l y. E a c h o n e w a s u n d e r his / her own search for a number of years. So I can only speak about my own experience numbering into the two decades, which I boldly diversified greatly in tackling the same objective ( c o n t r o l l i n g r i s k s i n a dv a n c e ) . This present work is, perhaps, a testament to some of that efforts t h a t i n c lu d e d t r a i n i n g a c t iv i t i e s w i t h c o m p a n i e s l i k e S e d g w i c k , AON, Marsh & McLennan, Jenner Fenton Slade, Jardine, Minet (St. Paul Group of Companies), Swiss-Re, MAPFRE, Lloyd’s of London (chief head-office). L e s s o n s l e a r n e d b y t h e I n du s t r i a l M i l i t a r y C o m p l e x a n d e s p e c ia l l y NASA were, to a great extent, also incorporated congruently and cohesively. T h e t r a i n i n g w i t h c o u p le d w i t h t h e in t e r v i e w i n g o f m a n y “ l i n e ” a n d “ f u n c t i o n a l ” m a n a g e r a c r o s s ma n y i n d u s t r i e s a n d r e g i o n s . A l s o with designated survey and polls while researching, studying, t e s t i n g , e x pe r i m e n t i n g a l l t h e t i m e t h r o u g h t h o s e t w o d e c a d e s . B r i n g i n g u n de r c o n t r o l c o m p l i c a t e d r i s k s f o r c u s t o m e r s s u c h a s t h e Word Bank, Ernst & Young Consulting, Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors,
  • 149. 149 T NT E x p r e s s , a m o n g o t h e r i m p o r t a n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s w a s a c u t e l y h e l p f u l i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g a d i v e r s i t y o f c h a l le n g e s a n d b e n e f i t s presented by the risks to be managed and brought under control. W h e n I f i r s t b e c a m e i n v o l v e d w i t h la r g e i n d u s t r i a l , c o r p o r a t e a n d pe r s o n n e l r i s k s , I s o o n r e a l i ze d t h a t a l l t o o l s a v a i l a b l e t o m e w e r e sub-optimal in my view. My large clients were asking me to become further creative, innovative and to come up with new approaches under life-to-death criticalities. All of this started a major pondering process with reflections and cross-referenced r e s e a rc h i n g m u l t i n a t i o n a l l y . F r o m t h e c la s s i c i n s u r a n c e ’ s w o r l d , I f ou n d i n e v e r y n a t i o n p e o p l e speaking about “Risk Management” though, in the ultimate analysis, they only meant “ I n s u ra n c e and/or Reinsurance Management.” From the markets in North America, Latin America, E u r o p e , J a pa n a n d t h a t o f L l o y d ’ s o f L o n d o n I c a p tu r e d “ l e s s o n s t o b e le a r n e d . ” F r o m t h e p e o p l e w h o u se d t o b e o r n o t i n i n s u r a n c e , b u t r e a l l y wanted to be in the vanguard of “Risk Management” without h a v i n g a s b a c k b o n e t h e “ f i n a n c ia l c o r n e r s t o n e ” I a l s o c a p t u r e d “lessons to be learned.”
  • 150. 150 The greatest lessons I learned from my own management big and d i v e r s e c o r p o r a t e a s s e t s a n d l ia b i l i t i e s t h i n k i n g b e y o n d r u in e d “out of the box” and getting increasingly further away from the i n s u ra n c e a n d r e i n s u r a n c e i n d u s t r i e s . I d i d a n d s t i l l a r e e n g a g e d i n t o p e r v a s i v e r e s e a r c h , e x pe r i m e n t i n g , testing, surveying and polling. I did also research other thought s c h o o l s a s t h a t o f T QM b y D e e m i n g , J u r a n , T P S / K a i s e n , S i x S i g m a , L e a n , L e a n S i g m a , R e l ia b i l i t y R e e n g i n e e r i n g ( a s j o i n t l y conceived by The Los Alamos National Laboratories and Procter And Gamble, P&G). At that moment, and for some strange reason, someone got the m a x i m u m o f m y a t t e n t i o n w h e n h e s t a r t e d s p e a k in g t o m e a b o u t A lv i n T of f l e r ’ s a n d h i s g a m e - c h a n g i n g b o o k “ F u t u r e S h o c k , ” f i r s t pu b l i s h e d i n t h e 1 9 7 0 s . [ 2 5] F r o m t h e r e o n — h a v i n g r e a d t h e b o o k c a re f u l l y , I b e c a m e e n g a g e d a b o u t t h e r a t e a n d o m n i - m o d e i m p a c t o f c ha n g e , s e e i n g c h a n g e engendering opportunities and chaos at the same time and forever. I then realized that the timing, tempo and rhythm of the progression of the change rate were always operating against humans’ intuitiveness and insight.
  • 151. 151 T h e d r i v i n g f o r c e w a s t h e u n de r s t a n d i n g o f h o w s m a l l a n d c o m p l e x t h i n g s i n l i f e c a n b e s o p r o f o u n d l y m o d i f i e d b y j u s t in s t i t u t i n g “out-of-this-world” common sense (not defunct common sense as pe r “ T h o m a s P a i n e ” a n y m o r e ) . S o m e f o r m s o f c ha n g e a r e a m a z i n g a n d m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d a t a n y rate as per my view. For instance, when things feel less chaotic, it d o e s n ’ t m e a n t h a t t h e r e i s le s s c h a o s . I t d o e s m e a n t h a t t h e r e i s m o r e c h a o s a n d o r d e r i n f lu i d s t a s i s . C l e a r l y , o r g a n i z a t i o n s , f i r m s , b u s i n e s s , p r o d u c t s , s e r v ic e s , p r o c e s s e s a n d ma r k e t s h a v e “ l i f e cycle.” Y e s , t h e r e a re f u r t h e r m o r e c y c l i c a l a n d s e a s o n a l c ha n g e s . B u t t h e r e a re a l s o c ha n g e s t h a t a re c o u n t e r - c yc l i c a l a n d c ou n t e r - s e a s o n a l a m i d s t m a n y o t h e r m o r e f u n da m e n t a l f o r m s o f c ha n g e . Cy c l i c a l a n d s e a s o n a l c h a n g e s a s w e l l a s c o u n t e r - c yc l i c a l a n d c o u n t e r - s e a s o n a l h a v e e a c h o n e a r e a c t i o n ( if y o u w i l l a f lu i d c o n s e q u e n c e ) . W ha t i t m e a n s i s t h a t m a n y f o r m s o f c h a o s a re g r e a t l y i n t e r t w i n e d and, thus, generating (a) mutually-reinforcing energies ( p r o d u c t i v e l y a n d d i s r u p t i v e l y ) , ( b) f u n c t i o n a n d pu r p o s e , a n d ( c ) a n d s e l f - p r e s e r v a t i o n f o r s a i d c ha o t i c y e t o r d e r e d s y s t e m , a s t h e i r collective selective pressures get aligned by their own combined v a lu a b l e o r d e r s ( u su a l l y m u l t i p l i e d b y m a n y o r d e r s o f m a g n i t u d e ) .
  • 152. 152 W h e n m y f a t h e r g a v e m e h i s p r i v a t e l i b r a r y , I f ou n d a b o o k t h a t h e n e v e r m e n t i o n e d t o m e a n d w h i c h h e r e a d in 1 9 5 7 , w a y b e f o r e m y coming into existence, titled “El Desenlace Del Drama Mundial” ( i n S p a n i s h , “ T h e F i n a l O u t c o m e o f W o r ld ’ s Dr a m a ” ) p u b l i s h e d b y P u b l i c a c i o n e s I n te r a m e r i c a n a s a n d P a c if i c P r e s s P r e s s P u b l i s h i n g Association, and authored by Argentinean Dr. Fernando Chaij in 1956. It is a textbook with the rigor and strategic end and theme of a b o o k i n t h e t r a d i t i o n o f G e o r g e O r w e l l , t h o u g h i t w a s n o t in a n y way speculative but rigorously based only on fact, statistics, r e f l e c t i o n , c o n c e r n a n d a r e c t i f ic a t i o n c a l l i n g , n e v e r d r i v e n b y t h e science-fiction genre. In fact, it is documented and supported with robust facts and statistics. S o m a n y y e a r s l a t e r I c a me t o a g r e a t u n de r s t a n d i n g ( s in c e I b e l i e v e i n t h e f o r c e s o f g e n o t y p e a n d p h e n o t y p e , a s w e l l a s in t h e pe r p e t u a l l y fluid interaction between both). My maternal grandmother was really a busy lady, not only in making her home and being entrepreneurial, but my mother — not fully aware of the subtle scope of my profession — one day told me, “Your g r an d m o t h e r w a s a f u t u r o l o g i s t . S h e w o r k ed on u n d e r s t a n d i n g h o w an d wh e n t h i n g s w er e s u p p o s e d t o u n f o l d . ”
  • 153. 153 My paternal grandmother was a poetess. Lots of British humor and s t a m i n a i n h e r . M y m a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a R o y a l Du t c h / S h e l l contractor, owner of a diary products enterprise and a mind- e x p a n s i o n v e r s a t i l i s t . M y pa t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a l i c e n s e d d e n t i s t a n d a m a n o f le a r n i n g a n d k i n d n e s s t h a t c o u l d n o t s w a l l o w ignorance. She was studying several languages on her own and reading international newspapers with great discipline. By professional futurology is here meant to capture prospective images of eventual f u t u r e s b y e x e r c i s i n g t h e s c e n a r i o m e t h o d v i a t h e s c ie n t i f i c approach through applied omniscience and systems methodology. When I operate my scenario method process, I don’t limit said p r o c e s s t o o n l y t h r e e s c e n a r i o s , b u t t o a n e a r l y i n f in i t e n u m b e r . A n d m y f a t h e r w o u l d c o n s t a n t l y t e l l m e , b e s i d e s a m p l i f y in g m y b r a i n t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n a n d m i n d s h a p i n g m y pe r s o n a l i t i e s , “ t r y t o f o r e s e e e v e r y p r ob l e m s o t h at y o u c an f i x e a c h on e i n a d v a n c e . ” Exactly as Dr. Aubrey de Grey PhD, a leading-edge scientist at the University of Cambridge in England, states it, “We'll be solving problems b e f or e they arrive.” [59] Quite a future-ready declaration, Is it not?
  • 154. 154 W h a t a r e t h e u lt i m a t e c h o i c e s o f u s ? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ W e a r e t h e b e g i n n i n g t o a c q u i r e … d i r e c t an d d e l i b e r a t e c o n t r o l … o v e r t h e e v o l u t i on o f a l l li f e f o r m s … O N T H E PLANET … Including ourselves.” [163] A m o n g o t h e r c o n c u r r e n t m e t h o d o l o g i e s , on e c a n s e e t h e f u t u r e e a r l y o n v i a C h u r c h i l l i a n p r es c r i p t i o n ! W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l : “ T h e fu r t h e r b ac k w a r d y o u l o o k , t h e fu r t h e r f o r w ar d y o u c a n s e e . ” [ 1 4 2] R e i n f o r c i n g t h i s p o s i t i o n h a d b e e n C o n f u c iu s f o r c e n t u r i e s : “I f a m a n g i v e s n o t t h ou g h t a b ou t w h a t i s d i st a n t , h e wi l l f i n d s o r r o w n e a r a t h a n d . ” [ 1 0 3] I n a d d i t i o n a n d t o m a k e “ m a t t e r s w o r s e , ” o p e r a t i n g in a dv a n c e has, in my case, an additional dimension. Using the notion by E i n s t e i n a n d i n d e a l i n g w i t h p r o b l e m e a r l y o n ( p r e f ac t o ) , I w i l l g o a n d s c a n t h r o u g h t h e e n t i r e t y o f t h e h a y s t a c k u n t i l I m a ke c e r t a in that I get every needle IN ADVANCE. “ E i n st e i n w a s o n c e a s k e d w h a t t h e d i f f e r en c e w a s b e t w e e n h i m a n d t h e a v e r a g e p e r s o n . H e s a i d t h at i f y o u a s k e d t h e a v e r a g e
  • 155. 155 p er s o n t o f i n d a n e ed l e i n a h a y s t a c k , t h e p e r s o n w o u l d s t o p w h en h e o r s h e f ou n d a n e ed l e . H e, o n ot h e r h a n d , w o u ld t e a r t h r o u gh t h e en t i r e h a y s t a c k l o o k i n g f o r a l l t h e p o s s i b l e n e e d l e s . ” [ 1 3 4 ] W hy s h o u l d w e m a n a g e p r o b l e m s w a y i n a d v a n c e b e f o r e and thoroughly they get out control? D w i g h t D . E i s e n h o w e r : “ A l l p l a n s f a l l at fi r s t c on t a c t w i t h t h e en e m y [ c o m p e t i n g s i t u at i o n s , i n c lu d i n g a n d b e g i n n i n g t h o s e o f a n d b y c h an g e ] . ” [ 1 2 3 ] Through most advanced scenario method and systems approach y o u p r a c t i c e z i l l i o n f u tu r e s in a d v a n c e t o s e i z e s o m e r e l e v a n t a n d detailed idea of the dynamics and the driving forces besieging you and your organization, enterprise, initiative with downsides and u p s i d e s . C a n D r . G r o s e o f f e r a n u n de r p i n n i n g w i s d o m t o t h i s notion? D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D S c : “ I t w o u ld b e h a r d t o fi n d a n y o n e w h o b e l i e v e s t h a t l o s s e s o c c u r w i t h o u t an y c au s e . Y e t m a n y m a n a g e r s , ac t i n g a s t h ou g h an ac c i d e n t i s a r an d o m s t r o k e o f f at e , h a v e t o b e r e m i n d ed t o s e e k a n d r e m o v e c au s e s p r i o r t o a l o s s . L e s s ob v i o u s t o t h e l a y m a n i s t h e i d e a t h a t n e a r l y a l l ac c i d e n t a l l o s s e s h a v e a mu l t i p l e c a u s e s : v i r t u a l l y n o ac c i d e n t h a s a s i n g l e c au s e
  • 156. 156 … . I d e n t i f y i n g c a u s e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e t h at a r e s u b t l e o r u n s e e n , requires t en a c i t y , i m a g i n a t i on , and a systematic m e t h od . H o w e v e r , s i n c e a l m o s t e v e r y a c c i d en t o r l o s s h a s a k n o wn p r e c ed e n t , y o u n e v e r h a v e t o s t a r t y o u r s e a r c h f o r c au s e s e m p t y - h an d ed . ” [ 9 9 ] A n d D r . G r o s e f u r t h e r i n d i c a t e s : “ A pr i m e r o n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t , a p p l i c a t i o n , a n d r e q u i r e m en t o f ‘ s y s t e m s t h i n k i n g ’ t o ob t a i n an o r d e r ed , g l o b a l m a n a g e m e n t p er s p e c t i v e — a c r i t i c a l n e e d i f h i s t o r i c a l r i s k m a n a g e m e n t i s t o b e t r a n s l a t ed [ i n a d v a n c e] f r o m r e a c t i o n i n t o p r e v e n t i o n o f r i s k [ m a n y c a l l r i s k s “ p r ob l e m s ” ] … . T h e s y s t e m s a p p r o a c h i s g o d l i k e — a t l e a s t i n p er s p e c t i v e . I t a i m s t o l o o k a t an y s i t u at i o n wi t h O M N I S C I E N C E — T O T A L I T Y O F K N O W L E D G E … . O f c o u r s e , i t n e v e r s u c c e ed s b ec a u s e o f h u m a n li m i t at i o n s . B u t t h e g o a l r e m a i n s . An d s u c h g o a l i s e s s e n t i a l i f r i s k i s t o b e m an a g e d e f f ec t i v e l y . E v e r y p o s s i b l e r i s k m u s t b e c o n s i d er e d b e f o r e s y s t e m a t i c m a n a g e m e n t o f r i s k c an oc c u r . I f t h i s s e e m s g r a n d i o s e , i t i s n ’ t m e a n t t o b e . I n f a i li n g t o t a k e s u c h a l o f t y a n d a l l - en c o m p a s s i n g v i e w, m a n a g er s a r e v u ln e r a b l e t o b e i n g b l i n d - s i d e d b y a n o v e r l o o k e d r i s k wh i l e b e l i e v i n g t h at t h e y have everything under control.” [99]
  • 157. 157 Adding insights in line with the theme treated and emergency p r e pa r e d n e s s a n d b u s i n e s s c o n t i n u i t y b e f o r e a n d a f t e r e x t r e m e h a z a r d s , t h e r e a re v a l u a b l e r e f le c t i o n s b y D r . C o l l i n s . Dr. Robert A. Collins, PhD: “Disasters are a n at u r a l an d p r e d i c t ab l e p a r t o f t h e h u m a n c on d i t i o n . T h i s i n c lu d e s b o t h n at u r a l d i s a s t er s a n d h u m an - m ad e d i s a s t er s . I n s p i t e o f t h i s , w h en e v e r a d i s a s t e r s t r i k e s , m o s t pe o p l e a r e u n pr e p a r ed . T h e i n e v i t ab l e r e s u l t i s t h e l o s s o f li f e an d p r o p er t y . I t d o e s n ot h a v e to be this way. … SINCE DISASTERS ARE AN INEVITABLE PART O F L I F E , T H E W I S E S T C O U R S E O F A CT I O N I S T O U N D E R S T A N D THEM, PREPARE FOR THEM, AND CAPITALIZE ON THE O P P O R T U N I T I E S T HA T T H E Y P R E S E N T . T h e fi r s t an d m o s t i mp o r t a n t s t e p i n d i s a s t e r p l a n n i n g i s, o b v i o u s l y , t o h a v e a p l a n . W i t h o u t a s p e c i f i c p l a n , i t wi l l b e v e r y d i f f i c u l t , i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e , t o i m p l e m e n t t h e o t h e r s t e p s i n d i s a s t e r pr e p a r a t i o n . M o s t o r g an i z a t i on s d e a l w i t h d i s a s t er s b y f i r s t h o p i n g t h a t t h e y d on ’ t h a p p en . T h e n w h e n t h e y d o h a p p en , t h e y r e s p o n d t o t h e m a n d t r y t o r e c o v e r f r o m t h e m. M OS T O R G A N I Z A T I O N S D O N O T T R Y T O MITIGATE THEM IN ADVANCE. THIS IS AN IRRATIONAL AND E X P E N S I V E S T R A T E G Y . … I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o p l a n f o r t h i n g s t h at y o u c a n n o t i m a g i n e . T h e r e f or e , t h e f i r s t s t e p i n f o r g i n g t h e r e s i l i e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n i s t o c o n d u c t ‘ s c en a r i o p l an n i n g ’ . . . . I t i s necessary for the organization to be honest with itself when
  • 158. 158 c o m p l e t i n g t h e s c e n ar i o p l a n n i n g s t e p i n d i s a s t e r pr e p a r a t i o n . T H E T A S K H E R E I S N O T T O I M AG I N E T H E W O R S T D I S A S T E R THAT THE ORGANIZATION THINKS THAT IT CAN HANDLE. THE T A S K I S T O I M A G I N E T H E W O R S T D I S A S T E R T HA T C O U L D POSSIBLE STRIKE THE COMPANY, GIVEN ITS GEOGRAPHIC L O C A T I O N A N D I N D I V I D U A L C I R C U M S T A N C E S . L e e C l ar k e , a d i s a s t e r p l a n n i n g e x p e r t an d p r o f e s s o r a t R u t g er s U n i v e r s i t y a r gu e s , ‘I T ’ S N O T C R A Z Y T O T H I N K AB O U T T H E W O R S T C AS E S [ I N A D V A N C E ] ’ … . ” [ 1 2 4] Can we take advantage of risk and benefit management with immense forethought and never in expensive hindsight? “ J o u r n a l i s t G e o f f r e y C o l v i n ( 2 0 0 5) a r gu e s : ' T h e e v e n t s t h at d o t h e w o r s t d a m a g e a r e t h e on e n o e v e n c on c ei v e d o f … T h e i d e a t h at a p a s s e n g e r j e t mi g h t c r a s h i n t o t h e W o r ld T r a d e C en t er h a d b e en t h o u g h t o f ; i t w a s a f a i r l y o b v i o u s p o s s i b i li t y , e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e a p l an e o n c e c r a s h e d i n t o t h e E m p i r e S t a t e B u i l d i n g . W h a t n o o n e i m a g i n e d w a s t h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f l ar g e p l an e s w i t h n e a r l y f u l l f u e l t an k s p l u s t h e i mp a c t o f t h e c r a s h e s j ar r i n g f i r e p r o o f i n g f r o m t h e g i r d er s , a n d h o w t h i s c ou l d b r i n g t h e t o w e r s d o w n . I n r e t r o s p ec t , it ob v i o u s l y c ou l d have been i m a g i n ed . I’ just wasn’t'…” [124]
  • 159. 159 If we based our decision-making on intuitiveness and hunches, we will never get it right. We can just admit we are inundated with c o m p l e x i t y , i d e n t i f y i t , e s t a b l i s h c ou n t e r m e a s u r e s a g a i n s t i t a n d s t r a t e g y t o f i n a l l y g e t o u r b e n e f i t s in a s u s t a i n e d a n d r a t i o n a l w a y. How are these speedy and somewhat dramatic times shaping and re-shaping us? “Journalist Amy Bernstein (2006) point out: ‘Few issues have m o r p h e d a s d r a m a t i c a l l y i n t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r a s c o r p o r at e r e s i l i e n c e . T h a t p h r a s e o n c e r e f e r e e d t o m a n a g i n g r i s k s t h a t w er e fairly predictable and relatively easy to insure against: fires, s t r i k e s , a n d ec o n o m i c r e c e s s i o n s f o r e x a m p l e . B u t a l l t h a t h a s c h a n g ed . A s t r i n g o f c at a s t r o p h e s — b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e t e r r or i s t a t t a c k s o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 0 1 , a n d c o n t i n u i n g t h r ou g h t h e bombing of the Madrid railway and the Asian Tsunami in 2004, t h e b l a s t o n t h e L o n d o n U n d e r g r ou n d i n J u l y 2 0 0 5 , Hu r r i c an e s K a t r i n a a n d R i t a i n A u g u s t a n d S e p t e mb e r , a n d t h e e a r t h q u a k e t h a t d e v a s t a t e d P a k i s t an i n O c t o b e r 2 0 0 5 — h a s r e ar r a n g ed o u r c o n c ep t o f d i s a s t e r p r e p a r ed n e s s . I t ’ s n o l o n g e r e n o u gh f o r c o m p a n i e s t o d e v i s e a b u s i n e s s c o n t i n u i t y p l an an d f i l e i t a w a y s o m e w h e r e . T H E Y N O W H A V E T O FI G U R E O U T H O W T O B O U N C E BACK FROM THE UNTHINKABLE.’…” [124]
  • 160. 160 What are the relevant considerations that we insist on ignoring beyond any irresponsibility? “ Y o s s i S h e f f i , P r o f e s s o r o f S y s t e m s E n g i n e e r i n g a t M I T , c on d u c t ed a t h r e e y e a r s t u d y o f r e s i l i en t o r g a n i z at i o n s f r o m T o y o t a t o U P S t o t h e U S N a v y , a n d d r e w a s i m p l e c on c lu s i o n : A C O M P A N Y ’ S A B I L I T Y T O R E T U R N T O B US I N E S S D E P E N D S M O R E O N T H E D E C I S I O N S I T M A K E S B E F O R E A S H O C K HI T S T H A N T H OS E I T M A K E S D U R I N G O R A F T E R T H E E V E N T … Ac c o r d i n g t o S h e f f i , t h e t e r r or i s t a t t a c k s o f 9 / 1 1 f or c ed h i m a n d h i s c o l l e a g u e s t o s e e a m o r e c o m p r e h en s i v e v i e w o f r i s k . H e s t at e s : ‘B e f o r e t h a t , I t h o u g h t a b ou t i t m o s t l y i n f i n a n c i a l t e r m s — b u y i n g i n s u r a n c e a g a i n st v a r i o u s b u s i n e s s r i s k s , b u y i n g c o m m o d i t y f u t u r e s s u c h a s o i l t o h ed g e a g a i n s t p r i c e f lu c t u a t i o n s , t h e u s e o f f i n an c i a l d e r i v a t i v e s , e t c . I n t h e w a k e o f t h e a t t ac k s , I st a r r ed l o o k i n g a t a l l k i n d s o f d i s r u p t i o n s , an d i t b e c a m e c le a r t h a t t h e r e ’ s a l o t m o r e t o c on s i d er t h a n c o n t i n g e n c y p l an n i n g or fi n a n c i a l h ed g i n g . T H E R E A R E L O W - P R O B AB I L I T Y/ H I G H I M P A C T E V E N T S li k e t e r r or i s t at t a c k s t h a t m a y c a u s e u n p l a n n e d e xi s t s f r o m i m p or t a n t m a r k et s or e v e n t h e d e m i s e o f t h e u n p r e p a r ed b u si n e s s ’ … . D u r i n g M I T ’ s t h r e e y e a r s t u d y on r e s i li e n t c o m p a n i e s a n d i n t e r v i e w s w i t h d o z e n s o f c o m p a n i e s , f ou n d t h a t a c u l t u r e o f r e s i l i en c e w a s a c o m m o n e l e m en t . H e a r g u e s : ‘ T h e e s s e n c e o f r e s i li e n c e i s t h e
  • 161. 161 c o n t ai n m e n t of d i s r u p t i on an d r ec o v e r y from it. C u lt u r e c o n t r i b u t e s t o r e s i l i e n c e b y en d o w i n g e m p l o y e e s wi t h a s e t o f p r i n c i p l e s r e g a r d i n g t h e p r o p e r r e s p o n s e w h en t h e u n e x p e c t e d d o e s oc c u r , a n d w h e n t h e f or m a l o r g a n i z at i o n ’ s p o l i c y d o e s n o t c o v e r t h e s i t u a t i on at h an d o r i s t o o s l o w t o r e ac t , i t s u g g e s t s t h e c o u r s e o f ac t i o n t o t a k e ’ … . ” [ 1 2 4 ] I n s p e a k i n g o f c o n t i n g en c y p l a n n i n g , i t ' s w o r t h n o t i n g t h e en s u i n g . M u r p h y ' s la w s t a t e s : “ I f an y t h i n g c a n g o wr o n g , i t u l t i m at e l y w i l l . ” [ 9 6 ] N o n e t h e l e s s , I in s i s t t h a t i n m a n y i n s t a n c e s t h i s “ l a w ” i s u n i v e r s a l l y u se d n o t t o g e t “ p r e p a r e d n e s s ” in a d v a n c e a n d i n p la c e . S o p l a n n i n g a n d p r e pa r a t i o n b e c o m e s la x . S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e loss disruption ─ once crystallized ─ is congruently blamed on Murphy's law. This is rampant mediocrity. W h a t i t u s ed t o w o r k a n d d o e s n o t w o r k a t a l l n o w? W hy e v e r y m a n a g e r m u s t l e a r n a n d p l a n a h e a d — t h r ou g h unthinkable discernment for Life — in a global world contextualized among many superposed and conflicting driving forces that grow more and more complex by the second?
  • 162. 162 T o t h i s e n d G r o s e i n d i c a t e s : “ A f t er - t h e - f a c t n o l o n g er w o r k s … . B r i n g i t b ac k i f y o u h a v e a n y t r o u b l e w i t h i t , a n d I ’ l l f i x i t s o m e h o w , ’ w a s t h e s t an d a r d c o m m e n t wh e n y o u u s e d t o p i c k u p a b i c yc l e , a u t o m o b i l e , f o o d m i x e r , or l a wn m o w er fr o m t h e r e p a i r s h o p . A n d t h e r e p a i r m a n m e a n t w h a t h e s a i d . H e w a s c on f i d en t t h a t i f h e h ad o v e r l o o k ed an y t h i n g o r m a d e a m i s t a k e o f an y k i n d , h e w o u l d g e t a s ec o n d s h o t a t f i x i n g … . T h e ‘ s e c o n d s h ot ’ i s a lu x u r y t h at n o l o n g e r e x i s t s i n m a n y b u si n e s s e s . Y o u g e t o n l y o n e c h a n c e — a f t er t h at , y o u ’ l l b e t a l k i n g o n l y w i t h a t t o r n e y s , insurance agents, or bankers …. Life used to be simple. You knew y o u r c u s t o m e r s o n a f i r s t - n a m e b a s i s . Y o u r p r od u c t or s e r v i c e w a s a r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e o n e — u n d e r s t o od b y b o t h y o u a n d y o u r c u s t o m e r . Y ou r n a m e a n d r e p u t a t i o n w er e s u f fi c i e n t t o c o v e r an y er r o r o r o v e r s i g h t … . B u t t h e w o r ld h a s b ec o m e c o m p l e x , t o o complex to allow such c o m f o r t ab l e relationships. C o n s u m er e x p ec t a t i o n s ar e m a t c h i n g t h e c o m p l e xi t i e s . I n st a n t a n e o u s n e w s c o v e r a g e o f a c c i d en t s a n d l o s s e s v i r t u a l l y pr e c l u d e s t h e pr i v a t e , ou t - o f - s i g h t s e t t l e m e n t o f r i s k e f f ec t s t h at h ad p r e v i o u s l y a l l o w e d t h e a f t er - t h e - f a c t r e s o l u t i o n o f r i s k t o s u c c e ed . T h e b r e a d t h i n t h a t o l d i d e a i s r ap i d l y b e i n g s q u e e z e d o u t — l i k e t h e i n e v i t a b l e t i g h t en i n g o f a b o a c o n s t r i c t o r a r o u n d i t s v i c t i m …. T h e pr i c e f o r p u b l i c e x p o s u r e o f l o s s i s h i gh . M a n a g er s h a v e b e g u n t o r e a l i z e t h a t r i s k mu s t b e e x a m i n e d f o r m a l l y a n d r e s o l v e d b e f o r e h a n d r at h er t h a n b ei n g s e t t l ed a f t e r - t h e - f ac t . An d t h e y l e a r n fr o m
  • 163. 163 others. It was the 1982 sinking of the offshore drilling rig Ocean Ranger that spurred EXXON top management to order a s y s t e m a t i c e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e i r o f f s h o r e d r i l li n g r i s k s … E v e n t h o u g h E X X O N d o e s n o t o w n s u c h r i g s , i t r e c o g n i z ed t h a t e v e n c o n d u c t i n g o p e r a t i o n s a b o a r d t h e m c r e a t e d r i s k s t h a t d e m a n d ed b e f o r e - t h e - f a c t i d e n t i f i c a t i on , e v a l u a t i o n , a n d c o n t r o l . ” [ 9 9 ] P r o f . H a m e l , a l o n g t h o s e l in e s b y d e G r e y a n d G r o s e , s t a t e s : “ Fr o m N o s t r a d a mu s t o A l v i n T o f f l e r , i n d i v i d u a l s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e l on g b e en o b s e s s e d w i t h t r y i n g t o s e e t h e f u t u r e . T h e g o a l i s t o s o m e h o w g e t ad v a n c ed w a r n i n g o f ‘ w h a t w i l l b e ’ … ” [ 6 4 ] F u r t h e r i n g t h e m o t i o n s b y H a m e l , d e G r e y, m y l o v e d f a t h e r a n d m y o w n s e lf ( t h a t i s , s e e k i n g t o f u r t h e r t h e q u e s t a n d f i n d i n g s a b o u t diverse pe r s p e c t i v e s o n k n o w l e d g e ) , D r . H a u e r w a s h a s s o m e i n v a lu a b l e words of wisdom about “Universal Kn o w l e d g e s . ” Ensuing: S ta n l e y H a u e r w a s , B . D . M . A. M . P h i l a n d P h . D . : “ …i n s u pp o r t o f the liberal notion that the knowledges t h at c on s t i t u t e the u n i v er s i t y h a v e n o ‘ u s e ’ f a i l t o a s k wh a t [ J o h n H e n r y ] N e w m a n m e a n b y ‘ u n i v e r s a l k n o w l e d g e . ’ B y ‘ u n i v e r s a l ’ N e w m a n d i d n ot m e a n t h a t t h e k n o w l e d g e s t h a t c on s t i t u t e li b er a l l e ar n i n g c a n n ot b e j u st i f i ed b y t h ei r u t i l i t y , b u t r at h er t h at a l l k n o w l e d g e w a s
  • 164. 164 i n t er c on n e c t e d b e c a u s e t h e ‘ u n i v e r s e i n i t s l en g t h a n d b r e a d t h i s s o i n t i m at e l y k n i t t o g et h e r . ’ T o b e e d u c a t ed i s n o t t o b e w e l l r e ad o r t o k n o w a g r e a t d e a l ab o u t t h i s or t h a t s u b j ec t . R a t h er , i t i s t h e o n l y t r u e e n l a r g e m e n t o f m i n d w h i c h i s t h e p o w e r o f v i e wi n g m a n y t h i n g s at o n c e a s o n e w h o l e, o f r e f er r i n g t h e m s e v e r a l l y t o t h e i r t r u e p l a c e i n t h e u n i v e r s a l s y s t e m , o r u n d e r st a n d i n g t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e v a l u e s , a n d d et e r m i n i n g t h ei r mu t u a l d e p en d en c e … ” [95] And Hauerwas continues: “ … T h u s i s t h at f o r m o f Un i v e r s a l K n o w l ed g e s s e t s u p i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l i n t e l l e c t , a n d c o n s t i t u t e s i t s p er f e c t i o n . P o s s e s s e d o f t h i s r e a l i l l u m i n at i o n , t h e m i n d n e v e r v i e w s a n y p a r t o f t h e e x t en d ed s u b j ec t - m a t t er o f K n o w l ed g e w i t h o u t r e c o l l ec t i n g t h a t i t i s b u t a p ar t , or w i t h o u t t h e a s s o c i a t i o n s w h i c h s p r i n g f r o m t h i s r e c o l l ec t i on . I t m a k e s e v e r y t h i n g i n s o m e s o r t l e a d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e ; i t w ou l d c o m m u n i c at e t h e i m a g e o f t h e w h o l e t o e v e r y s e p a r a t e p or t i on , t i l l t h a t w h o l e b ec o m e s i n i m a g i n a t i o n l i k e a s p i r i t , e v e r y w h e r e p e r v a d i n g a n d p e n et r a t i n g i t s c o m p on e n t p ar t s , a n d g i v i n g t h e m o n e d e f i n i t e m e an i n g … . P h i l o s o p h y , n o t t h e o l o g y , N e w m a n b e l i e v e s t o b e t h e d i s c i p l i n e t h at i s d i s t i n c t f r o m a l l t h e s c i en c e s , t h a t i s , ‘ i n s o m e s e n s e ’ p h i l o s o p h y i s ‘ a
  • 165. 165 s c i e n c e o f s c i en c e s . ’ … ” [ 9 5] I m u s t c o m m u n ic a t e t h a t t h i s w i s d o m is “hyperbolically” optimum. Notwithstanding, said “ Un i v e r s a l K n o w l ed g e s , ” an indeed appreciated and practicable notion is a sub-system (or only as a function of) what I have here defined as “applied omniscience.” There is no incongruousness, but an absolute synergistic supplementary. My applied omniscience d e f in i t i o n at « http://bit.ly/c8zAeb » I strongly believe in one KNOWLEDGE stemming from applied omniscience. Doesn’t “pantology” bring together, into cohesive unification and integration, every sort of universals kn o w l e d g e ? G iv e n that premise, What are the unambiguous merits, basis and grounds to speak of “universal knowledges” (that is, in plural) in so contravening the dictum by the Oxford Dictionary? The undersigned will ascertain that the term “pantology” ( http://bit.ly/bmRF1C ) is here and now i n c lu d e d in own definition of applied omniscience. I was raised in a home in which it was much more important to s o l v e p r o b l e m s — t h r o u g h f u n d a m e n t a l a n d pe r m a n e n t a p p r o a c h e s — b e f o r e t h e i r c r y s t a l l i z i n g . B e f o r e t h e s e f i n d i n g s , I wa n t e d t o k n o w w h y a n d h o w e a c h t o y a n d e v e n 3 8 3 - in c h ( e i g h t - c y l i n d e r )
  • 166. 166 Chrysler Fury engine operate, as well as in v e s t i g a t i n g the p o s s i b i l i t y o f ma k i n g t h o s e a r t i f a c t “ p e r f o r m ” b e t t e r , s a f e r , a n d faster. F o r t u n a t e l y , I a m n o t a p r o g n o s t i c a t o r , b u t I a m s t e a d i l y p r a c t i c in g z i l l i o n “ F U T U R E S ” i n a dv a n c e e f f o r t l e s s l y . F o r o v e r s o m e f i f t e e n y e a r s t h e s e w o r k i n g s b y m y m i n d s t o p b e i n g “ s e c o n d n a tu r e ” a n d b e c a m e f i r s t n a tu r e i n d e e d . For a client or for a serious subject matter of mine, I will be eliciting the driving forces that will impact positively and negatively, as well as the action plans to exploit every UPSIDE out of every DOWNSIDE. I n t h e m e a n t i m e , t h e r e i s a n A ra b a da g e t o s h a r e w i t h y o u : “T h a t w h o f o r et e l l s t h e t r u t h l i e s e v e n i f h e i s t e l li n g t h e t r u t h . ” S i r K a r l P o p p e r , t o t h a t e n d , a r gu e s : “W e m a y b ec o m e t h e m a k er s o f o u r f a t e w h en w e h a v e c e a s e d t o p o s e a s i t s p r o p h et s … . B e c au s e o f s t r i c t l y l o g i c a l r e a s o n s , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o pr e d i c t t h e future course of history.” Consequences of attempting to predict the future?
  • 167. 167 J o h n S ma r t : “ … ’T h e f u t u r e c an ’ t b e p r ed i c t ed , ’ i s a c o m m o n r e f r a i n … B u t … w h en [ t h i s p er s p e c t i v e ] i s wr o n g , i t i s p r o f o u n d l y wr o n g . ” [ 1 4 2 ] And, along those same lines, Jean Cocteau (1989 – 1963) points out: “The future doesn’t b el o n g to an y o n e . There ar e no h ar b i n g e r s ; t h e r e a r e o n l y b u t d e b t o r s . ” [ 1 3 0] [ 1 3 0] [ 1 1 1 ] F u r t h e r i n s i g h t a l o n g t h es e l i n e s : By Gary Hamel, PhD: “The future belongs not to those who possess a c r y s t a l b al l , b u t t h o s e w i l l i n g t o c h a l l en g e t h e b i a s e s an d prejudices of the ‘establishment.’ The future belongs more to the u n o r t h o d o x t h an i t d o e s t o t h e pr o g n o s t i c at o r s , m o r e t o t h e m o v e m e n t t h a n t o t h e s t ar r y - e y e d . ” [ 8 7 ] E r g o , t h e r e i s Z E R O prophesying beforehand. By extreme systematic, systemic, “before-the facts” cognition (thus exercising a global management perspective), I see trends, their intertwining, their superposing, their in t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p , their dynamics, and their possibilities. I also see advantages and d i s a d v a n ta g e s a n d t h e f r u i t f u l n e s s o f t a c k l in g t h e m w h e n i t i s called for.
  • 168. 168 E v e n m o r e t h a n I ’ d l i k e i t t o b e t h a t w a y, I mu s t a d m i t I a m a pe r v a s i v e “ p a t t e r n i s t , ” p a t t e r n i s t ( pa t e r f a m i l i a s ’ pa t t e r n i s t s a m o n g o t h e r p a t t e r n i s t s ) f r o m p a t t e r n s t h a t b e c o m e pa t t e r n s i d e n t i f i e d , a c k n o w l e d g e d , a n a ly z e d a n d u n d e r s t o o d e a r l y o n , t h a t i s : b e f o r e their underneath currents (driving forces) make it evident to the world. A s I a p p l y , pa t t e r n i s t s e m p h a s i z e t h e d e e pe s t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f pa t t e r n s — a s t h e y a re e m b e d d e d a n d e n t r e n c h e d i n d r i v i n g f o r c e s — over the long-term times, without excluding short-term ranges. In the process I might regard myself a rigorist. I need to have an i n - d e p t h u n de r s t a n d i n g o f t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e s t o in s t i t u t e t r u l y robust Risk Management (as I understand this grave, complex and indispensable discipline). These extreme systematically and systemically cognitions, as expressly exercising both hemispheres of your brain (thus e x e r c i s i n g a g l o b a l m a n a g e m e n t p e r s p e c t i v e ) , m i g h t la n d m e o r y o u to pre-cog capabilities if you’re willing — that is — to deploy own efforts in sustained ways.
  • 169. 169 In my case and that of my maternal grandmother, it has nothing to d o w i t h c l a i rv o y a n c e . I t h a s o n l y a n d f u l l y t o d o w i t h t h e application of the scientific method and working out the brain. The scientific and technological progression, driven by the c o n v e r g e n c e o f m a n y v i s i o n a r y i n du s t r i e s a n d t h e m a r k e t a b i l i t y o f the stemming technologies globally, has brought an unprecedented level of scientific knowledge at a growing rate beyond geometrically exponential progression. I n t h e m e a n t i m e , a n d n o t s o pa r a d o x i c a l l y , t o o ma n y v a l u a b l e minds are engaged in rogue retrogression (that is, progression’s a n t i p o d e s ) a s w e l l. A r e m i n d s i n r e t r o g r e s s i o n d e s p e r a t e l y s e e k i n g s e l f d e v a s t a t i o n ? P r o g r e s s i o n a n d r e t r o g r e s s i o n i m p a c t a n d i n f l ic t c ha n g e s . F r o m t h e I n s t i t u t e f o r t h e Fu t u r e , P a u l S a f f o a n d R o y A m a r a m a ke a p o i n t r e g a r d i n g c h a n g e : “ I t h i n k a b ou t i t a s ‘ o r d e r s o f i m p ac t . ’ F i r s t or d er , s e c o n d o r d e r , e t c . W h e n a n e a r t h q u a k e h a p p en s y o u h a v e a w h o l e s e r i e s o f w a v e s t h a t f o l l o w . T h e f i r st o r d e r o f t h e au t o w a s t h e h or s e l e s s c a r r i a g e . T h e s e c o n d o r d er w a s t h e t r a f f i c j a m . T h e t h i r d - o r d e r i m p ac t w a s t h e m o v e t o w a r d t h e s u b u r b s . T h i s l ed i n t u r n t o t h e c r e at i o n o f h u g e m et r o p o l i t a n a r e a s . ” [ 6 4]
  • 170. 170 Medical advancements and breakthroughs not only hold the promise of prolonging life while holding it with great health and stamina, but it is entertaining the idea of human lives prevailing f o r u p t o o n e t h o u s a n d y e a r s w h i l e s o m e , l i ke D r . R a y K u r z w e i l Ph.D. and Dr. Terry Grossman M.D. [26], [27], speak habitually of c o n qu e r i n g i m m o r t a l i t y . In this digital age of information and knowledge workers, utopias a n d d y s t o p i a s d o n ’ t m a t t e r mu c h b e y o n d w h a t I h e r e c a l l t h e “caveat.” In directly dealing with every limit, border, barrier, and boundary of a scientific and technological utopia ─ utopia meant i n a pe j o r a t i v e l y m o d e b y t h e a v e r a g e s o u l ─ i s n o w b e i n g pe r v a s i v e l y b y - p a s s e d , o v e r c o m e , s u r p a s s e d , s u p e r s e d e d b y e v e r - growing ra t e s of geometrically exponential discontinuous increasing orders of magnitude (orders of magnitude of newness by any disruptive “unprecedented” measure). Those immensurable and diverse driving forces are in-progress long set in motion both f o r g o o d a n d i l l w h i l e o c e a n s o f i g n o r a m u s e s a n d s i m p l e t o n s a re turning their blind eyes. In all sanctity, everyone has the right to “pitch” his / her own actions and “ c a tc h ” his / her own consequences.
  • 171. 171 T o t h i s e n d J o h n L i e n h a r d c o m m e n t s : “W e l i v e i n a t e c h n o l o g y - dense world …. We are terrifyingly naked without knowing e l e m en t a r y t h i n g s ab o u t [ h o w t e c h n o l o g i e s ] w or k . ” [ 1 0 4 ] M a n y s e r i o u s r e s e a r c h e r s ( i n c l u d i n g C a m b r i d g e Un i v e r s i t y ' s D r. Aubrey de Grey, PhD) speak about as living as you pay and use the o n e - t h o u s a n d y e a r m i l e s t o n e n o t t o m a ke p e o p l e a f r a i d a b o u t immortality becoming a major reality in the near future. T h e a i m i s i m m o r t a l i t y pe r s e a n d n o t t h e t h o u s a n d y e a r s in a c t u a l i t y . I n t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n , a n y o n e w i l l m a ke h i s o r h e r “freewill” choice. Addressing Kurzweil, Grossman and de Grey, a c le v e r and prominent physician makes his point. Dr. Joseph Knoll, M.D. who e f f e c t e d a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y r e f le c t i o n : “W e s h a l l n e v er f o r g e t t h a t h u m a n s o b v i o u s l y c a n n o t c h an g e n at u r a l l a w s , b u t b y d i sc o v e r i n g t h e i r m ec h a n i s m s o f ac t i on t h e y l e ar n t o m a k e u s e o f t h i s k n o w l e d g e . B y c on q u er i n g g r a v i t a t i o n m a n s t e p p e d a c r o s s h i s n at u r a l l y g i v e n l i m i t a n d u lt i m a t e l y l a n d e d o n t h e m o o n . ” [ 5 9 ] S o m e o n e i n a H i s t o r y C h a n n e l p r o g r a m h o s t e d b y D r . M ic h i o Ka k u indicated, along these lines in speaking of nanotechnology and
  • 172. 172 b i o t e c h n o l o g y a n d l i f e e x t e n s i o n , “ …t h a t i l ln e s s e s a n d d e f e c t s won’t be a part of the human life…” [111] Impossibilities rendered fully feasible? S i r A r t h u r C . C la r k e ’ s T h r e e L a w s : “ ( 1) W h en a d i s t i n g u i s h e d b u t e l d e r l y s c i en t i s t s t at e s t h at s o m e t h i n g i s p o s s i b l e , h e i s a l m o s t certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is v e r y p r o b a b l y wr o n g . ( 2 ) T h e on l y w a y o f d i s c o v e r i n g t h e l i mi t s of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the i mp o s s i b l e . (3) Any s u f fi c i en t l y a d v a n c ed t ec h n o l o g y is i n d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e f r o m m a g i c . ” [ 1 6 6 ] T h e r e i s a v a lu a b l e t h o u g h t a b o u t t h e f u tu r e a n d i t s a r r i v a l , a t t r i b u t e d t o G a r y Ha m e l , “T h e p r o b l e m w i t h t h e fu t u r e i s t h at i s d i f f e r en t [ si n c e i s p r o f ou n d , i t s s c i en t i fi c p r o p er t i e s a r e b ei n g d r a m a t i c a l l y c h an g e d i n r e a l t i m e a n d a l l o f t h e t i m e ] . I f y o u a r e u n a b l e t o t h i n k d i f f er e n t l y , t h e F u t u r e wi l l a l w a y s ar r i v e a s a surprise.” [28] In addition and as it is believed to be proclaimed by Samuel G o l d w y n , “ O n l y a f o o l w ou l d m a k e p r ed i c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y a b ou t the future.” [64] If we are serious about change and all of its d e r i v a t i o n s a n d s e q u e l s , w e m u s t t a l k f u tu r e s t u d i e s c o p i o u s l y .
  • 173. 173 T o o p t i m i z e p r e d i c t a b i l i t y a n d a c c u ra c y o r e v e n u n d e r t h e m i l d e s t scenario and sternest and clever effort to amplify and diversify s c e n a r i o s e n v i s i o n e d t o g e t a n e a r l y p r e pa r a t i o n ( i n a d v a n c e ) a b o u t the dynamics of processes, challenges, opportunities, risks, and d e v i a t i o n s . W e mu s t w a l k t h i s in t r i c a t e t a l k t h e s o o n e s t . Before solving any complex problems (“advanced problems”), one must comprehend the most of them. A cross-functional, m u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l , p lu r i - c o n t e x t u a l s c r u t i n i z i n g a n d mu l t i - s t r a t a o f its ever-fluid and applicable womb-to-tomb, epidemiological vista w i l l b e b e y o n d v i t a l. In the execution, one must operate through many contexts and brainy filters and aided by a cohesive compilation of a great d i v e r s i t y o f p e r s p e c t i v e s “ f u n n e le d ” i n t o a m o n o l i t h i c u n i s o n . T h i s “ m o n o l i t h i c u n i s o n ” i s s e t u n d e r i n c r e a s i n g d y n a m ic s . I f y o u o b s e r v e d i t f i x e d , i t ’ s b e c a u s e i t ’ s m o v i n g f a s t e r t h a t y ou r s e n s e s can register. Speaking of novel and comprehensive foresight and far-sight and the modes to raise the ante in that science, art, practice, and above all self-discipline.
  • 174. 174 I w i l l i n c lu d e a r e m a r k a b l e q u o t a t i o n b y S t r a t e g o s I n s t i t u t e F o u n d e r a n d L o n d o n B u s i n e s s S c h o o l P r o f e s s o r . P r o f . G a r y Ha m e l , P h D : “ E a c h r e v o l u t i on i n a r t w a s b a s e d o n a r e - c on c e pt i o n o f r e a l i t y . I t w a s n ’ t t h e c a n v a s , t h e p i g m en t s , o r t h e b r u s h e s t h at c h a n g ed , b u t h o w t h e a r t i s t p er c ei v e d t h e w o r ld . I n t h e s a m e s e n s e , i t ’ s n o t t h e t o o l s t h at d i st i n g u i s h i n d u s t r y r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s f r o m h u md r u m i n c u m b e n t s — n ot t h e i n f o r m a t i on t ec h n o l o g y t h e y h ar n e s s , n ot t h e p r oc e s s t h e y u s e , n o t t h e i r f a c i l i t i e s . I n s t e a d , i s t h e i r a b i l i t y t o e s c a p e t h e s t r a n g l e h o l d o f t h e f a m i l i a r . ” [ 6 4] A s I p a r a p h r a s e D r . S te p h e n Ha w k i n g a n d t o pu r s u e t h e f o r m e r , m y e x p r e s s p e r p e tu a l b o t t o m - l in e ( t h a t o f t h e u n d e r s i g n e d ) f o r L i f e i s t h e e n s u i n g : “ M y g o a l i s s i m p l e . I t i s a c o m p l et e u n d e r s t an d i n g o f t h e U n i v e r s e , w h y i t i s a s i t i s a n d w h y i t e x i s t s a t a l l. ” I n m y c a s e , m y i n t e r e s t i s n o t j u s t in t e l l e c t u a l , b u t f u l l y c on c r e t e a n d practical towards solving problems, terminating risks and seizing benefits. T h i s w o r k i s n o t m e a n t a s a n i n t e l le c t u a l t e x t s o m u c h a s p r a g m a t i c a n d p r a c t i c a l m a n a g e m e n t l o o k a t c ha n g e , w i t h a v e r y s t r o n g emphasis on execution. I t’ s not about a pure in t e l l e c t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , o r j u s t a n i v o r y t o w e r u n de r s t a n d i n g , b u t , r a t h e r , the focus is on smart execution.
  • 175. 175 I strongly support JFK’s ensuing take as well. President John F. Kennedy’s speech on September 12, 1962 at Race U n i v e r s i t y : “ I f t h i s c a p s u l e h i s t o r y o f o u r pr o g r e s s t e a c h e s u s a n yt h i n g , i t i s t h at m a n , i n h i s q u e s t f o r k n o w l e d g e a n d pr o g r e s s , i s d e t er m i n ed a n d c a n n ot b e d et e r r ed . T h e e x p l or a t i o n o f s p a c e w i l l g o a h e a d , w h et h e r w e j o i n i n i t or n o t , a n d i t i s o n e o f t h e g r e at ad v e n t u r e s o f a l l t i m e , a n d n o n at i o n w h i c h e x p ec t s t o b e t h e l e ad e r o f ot h e r n a t i on s c a n e x p e c t t o s t a y b e h i n d i n t h e r ac e f o r s p a c e … . W e l l , s p a c e i s t h e r e, a n d w e ' r e g o i n g t o c l i mb i t , a n d t h e m o o n an d t h e p l an e t s a r e t h er e , a n d n e w h o p e s f o r k n o w l e d g e a n d p e a c e a r e t h e r e . A n d , t h e r e f o r e, a s w e s e t s a i l w e a s k G od ' s b l e s s i n g o n t h e m o s t h a z a r d o u s an d d a n g e r ou s a n d g r e a t e s t ad v e n t u r e o n w h i c h m a n h a s e v e r e m b ar k e d . ” [ 80 ] I n a l i g n i n g t h e i d e a o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e n a tu r e o f c h a n g e a n d t h e i m p a c t s s t e m m i n g f r o m s a i d c ha n g e , f o r m e r G E ’ s C E O J a c k W e l c h i n d i c a t e d : “ S e e i n g t h e w o r ld t h e w a y i t i s, n ot t h e w a y w e h o p e i t w i l l b e o r w i s h i t t o b e . ” T he n , J e f f I m m e l t s u c c e e d e d J a c k W e lc h a n d b e c a m e n e w G E’ s C E O i n S e p t e m b e r 0 7 , 2 0 1 0 . [ 4 2 ] T o f u r t h e r e n l i g h t e n t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l , T ic h y s t a t e d : “ J e f f I m m e l t r e a l i z e s t h at t h e w o r l d c h a n g e s e v er y d a y a n d t h a t h i s j o b i s t o k e e p G E c o m p e t i t i v e i n t h a t c h an g i n g w o r ld . B u t h i s a b i li t y
  • 176. 176 t o t a k e t h e c o m p a n y w h e r e i t n e e d s t o g o i s g r e at l y f a c i li t a t ed b y t h e f a c t t h a t h e h a s a c l e ar u n d er s t a n d i n g o f w h e r e h e i s s t ar t i n g . ” [ 4 2 ] A g r e e i n g g r e a t l y w i t h D r . H a w k i n s ’ s , W e lc h a l s o m e n t i o n e d , “ T o g e t t o t h e g u t s o f wh y t h i n g s h a p p e n . ” [ 4 2 ] W e l c h i n d e e d b e l ie v e s i n e x e r c i s i n g pa t t e r n a n a l y z e s ( a s pa t t e r n i s t ) , D o e s h e n o t ? T h e r e i s a m a n d a t e i n t h e P R E S E N T o v e r t h e F UT U R E b y t h e f o r c e s o f t h e F O R T H C O M I N G T I M E S . T he s o l i d i d e a a b o u t i t r e q u i r e s c ra f t i n g a new vision, with its appended (loose/tight and a m o r p h o u s b u t a b s t r a c t y e t c o n c r e t e ) s t r a t e g y , a n d a l i g n i n g pe o p l e to it. T ra n s f o r m a t i o n i n v o l v e s n o t j u s t t e a r i n g a w a y f r o m t h e P A S T , b u t i m m e d i a t e l y m o v i n g i n t o a n e w b e t t e r f u tu r e b e s i e g e d b y g r e a t pe r i l s that mu s t be transformed or not into lucrative yet sustainable UPSIDES. I n s p e a k i n g t o y o u r i n t e l l e c t , a s y o u r i n t e l le c t a n d m i n e d i a l o g u e f l u e n t l y t h i s v i a , I w i l l a p pe a l t o l e g i t i m a t e n a r r a t i v e r e s o u r c e s t o o f f e r y o u a n a c c u r a t e i n s i g h t a n d p e r s p e c t i v e o f h o w t h e s c i e n t i f ic p r o p e r t i e s o f c ha n g e a r e c h a n g i n g a n d h o w c ha n g e d c ha n g e s a r e
  • 177. 177 beginning to change it all beyond the wildest dreams and n i g h t m a r e s . I w i l l u s e m e ta p h o r s a n d o t h e r a n a l o g i e s w i t h r i g o r . I n d u e t i m e , y ou w i l l r e a l i z e t h a t t h i s i s a w e l l - m e a n t a n d responsible calling in which vigorous rigor is sine qua non to the u n d e r s i g n e d . I i m m e n s e l y e n j o y a d v a n c e d d e m o c r a c y, r u l e o f l a w ( r i g or j u r i s ) , t r u e j u s t i c e , p e a c e a n d h a r m o n y . I r e a l l y l i k e s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y b u t t o t h e b e s t s e r v ic e o f c r e a t i o n a n d n e v e r o f devastation. Nonetheless, to “milk” hope out of daring situations, I must face raw realities to start de-risking some really unnecessary disruption p o t e n t i a l s . M y m o s t u n a m b i g u o u s e n d i s t o s e e k pe a c e t h r o u g h harmonic means only. Believe me, I am not naïve just become h o p e f u l w h e n I b e c o m e p h e n o m e n a l l y in d u s t r i o u s t o p a r a p h r a s e some prominent Germans. Why will I use the above referred “legitimate narrative resources”? Because I feel there i s ma s s i v e universal and dysfunctional i l l i t e r a c y c on c e r n i n g t h e n u a n c e s i n t h e r a t e s o f c h a n g e . T he r e h a s always been like that except but one feature. Now, the incumbents of supine ignorance are over-empowered by pervasive, ye t inexpensive tools of creation and devastation.
  • 178. 178 Even as headlines in “hard-copy” newspapers supersede the most c re a t i v e f a n t a s i e s e m b e d d e d i n s c ie n c e f ic t i o n , m a n y in c u m b e n t s just don’t get it. Others are really upset because they cannot understand why the PRESENT does not resemble the nearest PAST. Others are paralyzed in and by the analyzes. And others manifest a n a n a r c h i s t i c t e n d e n c y a g a in s t s o c i e t y . Through centuries, the greatest luminaries have greatly reflected a n d r e c o m m e n d e d n o t t o f i g h t a g a in s t e x t r a o r d i n a r y f o r c e s , b u t t o u se t h e m s m a r t l y . T h i s t i m e a r o u n d , w i t h t h e K i n g d o m o f t h e “Society of Knowledge” (that also embraces the “infotech e c o n o m y ” ) r u l i n g a s t h e p r o m i n e n t T u d o r f a m i l y , o n e mu s t b e c o m e a cross-pollinated savant to navigate the waters shed by said forces. T h e P R E S E N T s e e m s t o b e h a v in g a g r e a t d e a l o f e n j o y m e n t b y pontificating words and deeds solely engaged in exponential mediocrity, thus exploiting the worst of humankind as if it were t h e m o s t d e s i r e d q u a l i t y . T h i s f e a t u r e d qu a l i t y b y t h e P R E S E N T i s pe r v a s i v e l y h o r r e n d o u s a n d e x i s t e n t i a l l y d a m a g i n g . On the contrary, the FUTURE is capable, and in fact it implements so, of doing well to the point we would astound ourselves. The
  • 179. 179 a c t u a l q u o t a t i o n b y T h o m a s E d i s o n in d i c a t e s : “I f w e a l l d i d t h e t h i n g s w e a r e c a p ab l e o f d o i n g w e l l w e w o u ld l i t e r a l l y a s t o u n d ou r s e l v e s . ” [ 4 4 ] A s t h i s m a t e r i a l w i l l p o r t r a y , a n d m u c h t o t h e a dv a n t a g e o f t h e subject matter here dealt with, I carry and will carry on all my professional lines of practice with absolute agreement with Otto Herman Khan. He veritably stated: “I'm against fashionable t h i n k i n g . . . I ' m a g a i n s t i g n o r an c e . . . I a m a g a i n s t t h e w h o l e c li c h e o f t h e m o m e n t . . . I ' m a g a i n s t s l o p p y , e m o t i on a l t h i n k i n g … ” [ 4 3 ] . The undersigned subscribes every declaration by Otto Herman K h a n a n d s u p p l e m e n t t h o s e w i t h a n a d d i t i o n a l o n e . “I a m a g a i n s t i n e x p e n s i v e t h i n k i n g. ” [ 1 1 1 ] Technically correct thinking, for example, has no wa i t i n g a l l o w a n c e f o r t h e e n t i r e s c i e n t i f ic e s t a b l i s h m e n t t o d i s c o n f i r m o r to confirm evidence embedded in said “ t e c h n ic a l l y correct thinking” notion. Salvador Dali in seconding the motion by Khan offers us a thought: “ G e t r e a l ; d r e a m t h e i m p o s s i b l e. ” H o w e v e r , i f y o u d r e a m t h e impossible, you must get prepared to work rigorously and smartly for a serious term of time.
  • 180. 180 CHAPTER 2 THE CHALLENGE In case, you just yet don't have it unambiguously clear, this is V a lé r y ' s t a k e i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y . ( b y P a u l V a lé r y , 1 9 3 2 ) “ A l l t h e n o t i o n s w e t h ou g h t s o l i d , a l l t h e v a l u e s o f c i vi l i z e d li f e , a l l t h at m a d e f o r s t a b i l i t y i n i n t er n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s , a l l t h a t li m a d e f o r r e g u l a r i t y i n t h e ec o n o m y … i n a w o r d , a l l t h a t t e n d e d h a p p i l y t o l i m i t t h e u n c e r t a i n t y o f t h e m o r r o w , a l l t h at g a v e n at i o n s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s s o m e c o n fi d e n c e i n t h e m o r r o w … a l l t h i s s e e m s b ad l y c o m p r o m i s ed . I h a v e c o n su l t ed a l l a u gu r s I c ou l d find, of every species, and I have heard only vague words, c o n t r a d i c t or y p r o p h e c i e s , c u r i o u s l y f e eb l e a s s u r a n c e s . N e v e r h a s h u m a n i t y c o m b i n e d s o mu c h p o w e r w i t h s o mu c h d i s o r d er , s o mu c h a n xi e t y wi t h s o m a n y p l a y t h i n g s , s o m u c h k n o w l e d g e w i t h so much uncertainty…” [56] T h e r e i s g r e a t A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t o f f e rs c a u t i o u s o p t i m i s m ! D r . R o b e r t H . G o d d a r d , P h D : “ I t i s d i f f i c u lt t o s a y w h a t i s i mp o s s i b l e , f o r t h e d r e a m o f y e s t e r d a y i s t h e h o p e o f t o d a y a n d
  • 181. 181 t h e r e a l i t y o f t o m or r o w . ” [ 1 1 7 ] B i o g r a p h y o f D r . G o d d a r d a t http://bit.ly/bRzGqm CHAPTER 2 AN A C T U A L D I A L O GU E O F D A R W I N , N E W T O N , K A N T , G O ET H E , BACON, DA V IN C I , GALILEO, TESLA, BU C M I N S T E R FU L L E R , C H U R C H I L L AN D O T H E R S W I T H AN D R E S A G O S T I N I ? [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ C h a r l e s , H o w d o e s y o u r mi n d e n v i s i on i n g e n e r a l ? A n d w h at a b ou t y o u , I s a a c ? ” C h a r l e s D ar w i n : “ M y m i n d s e e m s t o h a v e b e c o m e a k i n d o f m a c h i n e f o r g r i n d i n g g e n er a l l a w s o u t o f l a r g e c o l l ec t i on s o f f ac t s . ” [ 1 3 1] I s a a c N e w t o n : “ I f I h a v e s e e n fu r t h e r t h a n ot h e r s , i t i s b y s t an d i n g u p on t h e s h o u l d e r s o f g i an t s . ” [ 1 3 1] Andres: “How do you visualize or do you not v i s u a li z e , I m m a n u e l ? C a n y o u o f f er u s a su g g e s t i o n ? ” I m m a n u e l K a n t : “ S e e k n o t t h e f a v o r o f t h e mu l t i t u d e ; i t i s s e l d o m g o t b y h o n e st an d l a w f u l m e a n s . B u t s e e k t h e t e s t i m o n y o f f e w ; a n d n u mb e r n ot v o i c e s , b u t w ei g h t h e m . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ H o w d o e s y o u r v i s i o n a n d t h o u g h t r e l a t e , C h ar l e s ? An d w h at a b ou t i n y o u r c a s e I m m an u e l ? ”
  • 182. 182 C h a r l e s D ar w i n : “ T h e h i g h e st p o s s i b l e s t a g e i n m o r a l c u lt u r e i s w h en w e r e c o g n i z e t h at w e o u g h t t o c o n t r o l ou r t h o u g h t s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] I m m a n u e l K a n t : “ A l l t h o u g h t m u s t , d i r ec t l y o r i n d i r ec t l y , b y w a y of certain c h a r ac t er s , r e l at e u lt i m a t e l y to intuitions, and t h e r e f or e , w i t h u s, t o s e n s i b i li t y , b e c au s e i n n o o t h e r w a y c an a n ob j e c t b e g i v e n t o u s . T h o u g h t s w i t h o u t c o n t e n t a r e e m pt y , i n t u i t i o n s w i t h o u t c on c e p t s a r e b l i n d . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ J o h a n n , i n a d d i t i on t o t h e v i e w s o f K a n t , D ar w i n a n d N e w t o n , H o w — i n y o u r v i e w — o n e s h o u l d s e e ? C a n y o u gi v e u s some hints?” J o h a n n W o l f g a n g V o n G o e t h e: “ E v e r y d a y w e s h o u ld h e a r a t l e a s t one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words. In nature we never see anything isolated, but e v e r yt h i n g in connection with s o m e t h i n g e l s e w h i c h i s b e f or e i t , b e s i d e i t , u n d e r i t a n d o v e r i t . T h e h ar d e s t t h i n g t o s e e i s w h a t i s i n f r o n t o f y o u r e y e s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ J o h a n n , H o w d o e s y o u r mi n d e n v i s i o n ? ” J o h a n n W o l f g a n g V o n G o e t h e: “ A l l i n t e l l i g e n t t h ou g h t s h a v e a l r e a d y b e en t h ou g h t ; w h a t i s n ec e s s a r y i s o n l y t o t r y t o t h i n k them again.” [131] A n d r e s : “ F r a n c i s , W h a t i s y o u r t a k e ab o u t t h e o p er a t i on o f o n e ' s m i n d a n d / o r p e r h a p s a p er s o n a l t r a i t ? ”
  • 183. 183 F r a n c i s B a c o n : “ O f a l l v i r t u e s an d d i gn i t i e s o f t h e mi n d , g o o d n e s s i s t h e gr e a t e s t , b ei n g t h e c h a r ac t e r o f t h e D ei t y ; a n d w i t h o u t i t , m a n i s a b u s y , m i s c h i e v o u s , w r et c h ed t h i n g . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ H o w d o p e o p l e e x e r c i s e t h i n k i n g , Fr a n c i s ? ” Francis B ac o n : “People u su a l l y think ac c or d i n g to their i n c l i n at i o n s , s p e a k ac c o r d i n g t o t h e i r l e a r n i n g an d i n g r ai n e d o p i n i o n s , b u t g en e r a l l y a c t a c c o r d i n g t o c u st o m . ” [ 1 3 1] A n d r e s : “ W h at t r u t h h o l d s i n t a c t r e g a r d l e s s , C h a r l e s ? ” C h a r l e s D a r w i n : “ F a l s e f ac t s a r e h i g h l y i n j u r i ou s t o t h e pr o g r e s s o f s c i en c e , f o r t h e y o f t e n e n d u r e l on g ; b u t f a l s e v i e w s , i f s u p p o r t ed b y s o m e e v i d e n c e , d o l i t t l e h ar m , f o r e v e r y o n e t a k e s a s a l u t a r y p l e a s u r e i n p r o v i n g t h ei r f a l s e n e s s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r P O V c on c er n i n g s c i e n c e, I m a m n u e l ? ” I m m a n u e l K a n t : “ S c i e n c e i s o r g an i z e d k n o w l e d g e . W i sd o m i s o r g an i z e d l i f e . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r P O V c on c er n i n g s c i e n c e, J o h a n n ? ” J o h a n n W ol f g a n g v o n G o et h e : “ H e w h o p o s s e s s e s ar t a n d s c i e n c e h a s r e l i g i o n ; h e w h o d o e s n o t p o s s e s s t h e m , n e ed s r e l i g i o n . T h e c r ed i t o f a d v a n c i n g s c i e n c e h a s a l w a y s b e e n d u e t o i n d i v i d u a l s and never to the age.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r P O V c on c er n i n g s c i e n c e, I s a a c ? ” I s a a c N e w t o n : “ T o m e t h e r e h a s n e v e r b e en a h i gh e r s o u r c e o f e a r t h l y h o n o r o r d i s t i n c t i o n t h a n t h at c o n n e c t ed w i t h ad v a n c e s i n s c i e n c e . ” [ 1 3 1]
  • 184. 184 A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r P O V c on c er n i n g s c i e n c e, C h ar l e s ? ” C h a r l e s D ar w i n : “ A s c i e n t i f i c m an ou g h t t o h a v e n o wi s h e s , n o a f f ec t i on s , — a m e r e h e a r t o f s t o n e . F a l s e f a c t s a r e h i g h l y i n j u r i ou s t o t h e p r o g r e s s o f sc i e n c e , f or t h e y o ft e n en d u r e l on g ; b u t f a l s e v i e w s , i f su p p o r t ed b y s o m e e v i d en c e , d o li t t l e h ar m , f o r every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h at t o p i c i s f o r o n e t o r e a l l y le a r n ab o u t i t , J o h a n n ? ” J o h a n n W ol f g a n g v o n G o et h e : “ N o o n e h a s e v e r l e ar n ed fu l l y t o know themselves. Only by joy and sorrow does a person know a n yt h i n g a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e i r d e s t i n y . T h e y l e a r n w h a t t o do and what to avoid.” [131] Andres: “In learning, What is important for one to bear in mind, Charles?” C h a r l e s D ar w i n : “ I n t h e l on g h i s t o r y o f h u m a n k i n d ( a n d a n i m a l k i n d , t o o ) t h o s e w h o l e a r n ed t o c o l l a b or a t e a n d i m pr o v i s e m o s t e f f ec t i v e l y h a v e p r e v a i l e d . ” [ 1 3 1 ] Andres: In seeing, “How does one make a decision, Leonardo?” L e o n a r d o d a V i n c i : “ T h er e ar e t h r e e c l a s s e s o f p e o p l e : t h o s e w h o s e e , t h o s e w h o s e e w h en t h e y ar e s h o w n , t h o s e w h o d o n o t s e e . W h y d o e s t h e e y e s e e a t h i n g m or e c l e ar l y i n d r e a m s t h a n t h e i m a g i n a t i on w h en a w a k e ? ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ L e o n a r d o , I h a v e h e a r d a n a p p a l l i n g n o t i on fr o m s o m e m a n a g e m e n t m o g u l . T h i s p e r s o n i n d i c at e s t h a t i f an i n d i v i d u a l
  • 185. 185 d o e s n o t g et ‘ m a d , ’ s h e a n d h e w o n ' t s o l v e a s i g n i fi c an t pr o b l e m ? W h a t f o s t er s k n o w l e d g e a n d w h a t pr e c lu d e s i t ? ” L e o n a r d o d a V i n c i : “ W h e r e t h er e i s s h o u t i n g, t h er e i s n o t r u e knowledge.” [131] A n d r e s : “ F r an c i s , I h a v e h e ar d an a p p a l l i n g n o t i o n fr o m s o m e m a n a g e m e n t m o g u l . T h i s p e r s o n i n d i c at e s t h a t i f an i n d i v i d u a l d o e s n o t g et “ m a d , ” s h e a n d h e w o n 't s o l v e a s i g n i f i c a n t p r ob l e m ? W h a t f o s t er s k n o w l e d g e a n d w h a t pr e c lu d e s i t ? ” Francis Bacon: “Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.” [131] A n d r e s : “ Kn o w l e d g e t o b e b e s t o w ed u p o n o u r s e l v e s an d o t h er s t o ac h i e v e w h a t , F r an c i s ? ” F r a n c i s B ac o n : “ F or a l s o k n o w l e d g e i t s e l f i s p o w er . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s p h i l o s o p h y g o o d f o r i n y o u r v i e w , Fr a n c i s ? ” F r a n c i s B a c o n : “ A l i t t l e ph i l o s o p h y i n c li n et h m a n ' s m i n d t o a t h e i s m , b u t d e p t h i n p h i l o s o p h y b r i n g et h m e n ' s m i n d s ab o u t t o religion.” A n d r e s : “ H o w v a l u a b l e t o y o u i s pr u d e n c e , Fr a n c i s ? ” F r a n c i s B ac o n : “ A p r u d en t q u e s t i on i s o n e - h a l f o f w i s d o m . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h er e d o e s o p p or t u n i t i e s c o m fr o m , Fr a n c i s ? ” F r a n c i s B a c o n : “ A w i s e m a n w i l l m a k e m or e o p p or t u n i t i e s t h a n h e finds.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h er e d o y o u g e t k n o w l e d g e fr o m , L e o n a r d o ? ”
  • 186. 186 L e o n a r d o d a V i n c i : “ A l l o u r k n o w l e d g e h a s i t s o r i g i n s i n ou r p er c e p t i o n s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h y i s s o i m p o r t an t t o c on c e i v e t h e r i g h t fu t u r e , H er m a n ? ” H er m a n K a h n : “ P r o j e c t i n g a p e r s u a s i v e i m a g e o f a d e s i r ab l e a n d practical future is e xt r e m e l y i m p o r t an t to high m o r a l e, to d yn a m i s m , t o c o n s e n s u s , a n d i n g e n er a l t o h e l p t h e w h e e l s o f society turn smoothly.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h a t i s c h an g i n g t h e m o s t i n y o u r v i e w a n d w h a t a r e t h e “ d o w n s i d e ” i m p l i c a t i on s o f s a i d c h a n g e s , H er m a n ? ” H er m a n K a h n : “ A t ot a l n u c l e ar f r e e z e i s c ou n t er p r od u c t i v e — e s p e c i a l l y n o w , wh e n t e c h n o l o g y i s r a p i d l y c h an g i n g an d t h e S o v i et s h a v e s o m e i m p o r t an t s t r a t e g i c a d v a n t a g e s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] Andres: “What have you done with your thinking capacity, H er m a n ? ” H er m a n K a h n : “ F o r s o m e y e a r s I h a v e s p e n t m y t i m e o n e x a c t l y t h e s e q u e s t i o n s — b o t h i n t h i n k i n g a b ou t w a y s t o pr e v e n t w ar , a n d i n t h i n k i n g a b o u t h o w t o f i g h t , s u r v i v e , a n d t er m i n a t e a w a r , s h o u l d i t oc c u r . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h a t r e l e v a n c e d o y o u gi v e — a s a s p e c i fi c v a l u e t y p e o f t h i n g — y o u g i v e t o m o r a l i t y a n d e t h i c s , H er m a n ? ” H er m a n K a h n : “ H u m a n a n d m o r a l f a c t o r s m u s t a l w a y s b e c o n s i d er e d . T h e y mu s t n e v e r b e m i s s i n g fr o m p o l i c i e s a n d f r o m public discussion.” [131]
  • 187. 187 A n d r e s : “ W h y mu s t w e ad v a n c e s c i en c e ? C a n y o u b e a b i t s p e c i fi c , Galileo? ” Galileo G al i l e i : “By denying s c i en t i fi c pr i n c i p l e s , one may m a i n t a i n a n y p a r ad o x . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s m a t h e m a t i c s t o y o u , A l b er t ? ” Albert Einstein: “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s i m a g i n a t i on g o o d f o r , A lb e r t ? ” A l b e r t E i n s t ei n : “ I m a g i n at i o n i s e v e r y t h i n g . I t i s t h e pr e v i e w o f li f e ' s c o m i n g at t r a c t i o n s . I m a g i n a t i on w i l l t a k e y o u e v e r y w h er e . ” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s ed u c a t i on ? ” Albert E i n s t ei n : “ E d u c a t i o n i s w h a t r e m a i n s a ft e r on e h a s f o r g ot t e n w h a t on e h a s l e a r n e d i n s c h o o l . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ H o w d o e s on e s h ou l d l i v e l i f e w i s e l y i n y o u r o p i n i o n , Albert?” A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ L e a r n fr o m y e s t er d a y , l i v e f or t o d a y , h o p e f o r t o m or r o w . T h e i mp o r t a n t t h i n g i s n ot t o s t o p q u e s t i o n i n g . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at a r e y o u r t h o u g h t s l a t e l y ? ” A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ I w a n t t o k n o w a l l G od s t h o u g h t s ; a l l t h e r e s t a r e j u st d et a i l s . ” [ 1 3 1] A n d r e s : “ W h a t a r e t h e c o n n e c t i o n s a m o n g e v e r y d i sc i p l i n e o f knowledge?”
  • 188. 188 A l b e r t E i n s t ei n : “ A l l r el i g i o n s , ar t s a n d s c i e n c e s ar e b r a n c h e s o f t h e s a m e t r e e . ” [ 1 3 1] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s s c i e n c e g o o d f o r , A lb e r t ? ” A l b e r t E i n s t ei n : “ I t s t a n d s t o t h e e v e r l a s t i n g c r e d i t o f s c i e n c e t h at b y a c t i n g o n t h e h u m an mi n d i t h a s o v e r c o m e m a n ' s i n s e c u r i t y b e f o r e h i m s e l f a n d b e f o r e n a t u r e. ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ I s i t l e a r n i n g i m p o r t a n t , B en ? ” B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n : “ A l e a r n ed b l o c k h e ad i s a gr e a t e r b l o c k h e a d t h a n an i g n or a n t o n e . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s t h e p r o b l e m w i t h s e l f - m a d e i gn o r a m u s e s ? ” B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n : “ B e i n g i g n o r an t i s n o t s o mu c h a s h a m e , a s b e i n g u n wi l l i n g t o l e ar n . ” [ 1 3 1 ] Andres: “Who has taught you the most, Ben?” B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n : “ E x p e r i en c e i s a d e ar t e ac h e r , b u t f o o l s w i l l l e ar n a t n o o t h e r . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ H o w d o y o u f o r g e a n ed u c a t ed m i n d ? ” B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n : “ T e l l m e an d I f o r g e t . T e ac h m e an d I r e m e m b e r . I n v o l v e m e an d I l e a r n . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s t h e o p p o s i t e o f R e a s o n ? ” Benjamin Franklin: “The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h er e w i l l y o u t r u s t y o u r m o s t t r e a s u r e d fu n d s ? ” Benjamin Franklin: “An investment in knowledge pays the best i n t er e s t . ”
  • 189. 189 A n d r e s : “ H o w d o e s o n e su c c e e d ? ” B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n : “ D o n ot f e ar mi s t a k e s . Y ou wi l l k n o w f ai l u r e . C on t i n u e t o r e ac h ou t . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ I n t h e W e s t w i s d o m s e e m s t o b e a f a s h i o n wh i l e i n t h e F ar E a s t t h i s i s a m a t t er o f g r e at a t t en t i o n , i s i t n o t ? ” B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n : “ W i s e m en d o n 't n e e d a d v i c e . F O O L S W O N ' T TAKE IT.” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s t h e m e t h o d i c a l s e q u en c e t o s u c c e s s ? ” T h o m a s A . E d i s o n : “ B e i n g b u s y d o e s n ot a l w a y s m e a n r e a l w o r k . T h e o b j ec t o f a l l w o r k i s p r od u c t i o n o r a c c o m p li s h m e n t a n d t o ei t h er o f t h e s e e n d s t h e r e mu s t b e f o r e t h o u g h t , s y s t e m , p l a n n i n g , i n t e l l i g e n c e , a n d h on e s t p u r p o s e , a s w e l l a s p e r s p i r a t i on . S e e m i n g to do is not doing.” [131] A n d r e s : “ H o w d o y o u g e t t o p r e v a i l i n g i n s e i z i n g su c c e s s ? ” Thomas A. Edison: “I find my greatest pleasure, and so my r e w a r d , i n t h e w o r k t h a t p r ec e d e s w h a t t h e w or l d c a l l s s u c c e s s . ” [131] Andres: “How important is winning?” T h o m a s A . E d i s o n : “ I h a v e n ot f a i l e d . I ' v e j u st f ou n d 1 0 , 0 0 0 w a y s t h a t w on ' t w o r k . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r t a k e ab o u t c o m p l e x i t y ? ” T h o m a s A . E d i s o n : “ I k n o w t h i s w o r ld i s r u l ed b y i n f i n i t e i n t e l l i g e n c e . E v e r y t h i n g t h at s u r r o u n d s u s — e v e r y t h i n g t h a t
  • 190. 190 e x i s t s — p r o v e s t h a t t h er e a r e i n fi n i t e l a w s b eh i n d i t . T h e r e c an b e n o d e n y i n g t h i s f a c t . I t i s m at h e m a t i c a l i n i t s p r ec i s i o n . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ D o y o u t r u st s e r e n d i pi t i e s or d o y o u p r e f er p s e u d o - s e r en d i p i t i e s ? ” T h o m a s A . E d i s o n : “ I n e v e r d i d a n y t h i n g b y a c c i d en t , n o r d i d a n y o f m y i n v e n t i o n s c o m e b y a c c i d en t ; t h e y c a m e b y w o r k . ” [ 1 3 1 ] Andres: “How do you gauge success?” Thomas A. Edison: “Just because something doesn't do what you p l an n ed i t t o d o d o e s n 't m e a n i t ' s u s e l e s s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s t h a t l on g - i gn o r ed f l a n k ? ” T h o m a s A . E d i s o n : “ O p p o r t u n i t y i s m i s s e d b y m o s t p e o p l e b ec a u s e i t i s d r e s s e d i n o v e r a l l s an d l o o k s l i k e w o r k . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ R i c h a r d , H o w d o y o u l i k e t h e w o r l d ' s t ec h n o l o g i c a l ad v a n c e s ? ” R . B u c k mi n s t er F u l l er : “ H u m a n i t y i s a c q u i r i n g a l l t h e r i g h t t e c h n o l o g y f or a l l t h e w r on g r e a s o n s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ H o w d o y o u c a p t u r e s u c c e s s i n y o u r d ai l y p r a c t i c e ? ” R . B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l er : “ M o s t o f m y ad v a n c e s w e r e b y m i s t a k e. Y o u u n c o v e r w h at i s w h en y o u g e t r i d o f w h at i s n 't . ” [ 1 3 1] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r v i e w o n c o n v e n t i o n a l [ ‘ o u t - o f - t h e - b o x ’ — s o - c a l l e d — ] d i sc e r n m e n t ? ” R . B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l er : “ P e o p l e s h o u ld t h i n k t h i n g s o u t f r e s h a n d n ot j u s t ac c e p t c o n v e n t i o n a l t er m s a n d t h e c on v e n t i on a l w a y o f doing things.” [131]
  • 191. 191 Andres: “Richard, do you b e li e v e in b ec o m i n g s t r a t e gi c a l l y surprised?” R . B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l er : “ T h e r e i s n o t h i n g i n a c a t er p i l l ar t h at t e ll s you it's going to be a butterfly.” [131] Andres: “Give me a hint! How involved are you with futures study?” R . B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l er : “W e a r e c a l l e d t o b e a r c h i t e c t s o f t h e future, not its victims.” [131] A n d r e s : “ I n y o u r o w n w o r d s , W h a t i s y o u r o w n s i g n i fi c a n c e t o w ar d s ed u c a t i o n ? ” R . B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l er : “ Y o u c a n n e v e r l e ar n l e s s , y o u c a n on l y l e ar n m o r e. ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ N i k o l a , A r e y o u fu t u r e - r e a d y ? ” Nikola Tesla: “Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one ac c o r d i n g t o h i s w o r k a n d a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s . T h e p r e s en t i s t h e i r s ; t h e f u t u r e , f or w h i c h I h a v e r e a l l y w or k e d , i s m i n e . ” [ 1 3 1] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s t h e t h i n k i n g - p r oc e s s f a i l i n g t h e s e d a y s ? ” N i k o l a T e s l a : “ T h e s c i en t i s t s o f t o d a y t h i n k d e e p l y i n s t e a d o f c l e a r l y . O n e m u s t b e s a n e t o t h i n k c l e a r l y , b u t o n e c an t h i n k deeply and be quite insane.” [131] A n d r e s : “ H a v i n g l i v ed t h r ou g h s o m u c h h i s t or y , H a s l i f e b e en a struggle for you?”
  • 192. 192 W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l : “ A p e s s i m i s t s e e s t h e d i f f i c u lt y i n e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y ; a n o p t i m i s t s e e s t h e o p p or t u n i t y i n e v e r y d i f f i c u lt y . ” [131] Andres: “How does a manager prevail?” W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l : “ B at t l e s a r e w o n b y s l au g h t e r a n d m a n e u v e r . T h e g r e a t er t h e g e n e r a l , t h e m o r e h e c o n t r i b u t e s i n m a n eu v e r , t h e l e s s h e d e m a n d s i n s l au g h t e r . ” [ 1 3 1 ] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r t a k e on t h e q u al i t y - a s s u r a n c e m o v e m e n t ? ” W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l : “ G r e a t an d g o o d a r e s e l d o m t h e s a m e m a n . ” [131] A n d r e s : “ W h at i s y o u r m i n d - e x p a n s i o n p at h w a y ? ” W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l : “ I a m a l w a y s r e a d y t o l e a r n a l t h o u g h I d o n ot always like being taught.” [131] A n d r e s : “ C a n t h e r e b e an t i - l e ad e r s h i p ? O f f e r a n i n s t an c e ? ” W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l : “ I f H i t l er i n v a d e d h e l l I w o u ld m a k e a t l e a s t a f a v o r a b l e r e f e r en c e t o t h e d e v i l i n t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s . ” [ 1 3 1 ] Andres: “How supportive of the 'PRESENT' are you?” W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l : “ I f w e o p e n a q u a r r e l b e t w e e n p a s t a n d p r e s e n t , w e s h a l l f i n d t h a t w e h a v e l o s t t h e fu t u r e . ” [ 1 3 1 ] Forewarning: The answers by the dialogue pa r t i e s with the undersigned are fully accurate and supported by the facts. Verify, to trust, at www.brainyquote.com
  • 193. 193 CHAPTER 2 EPIC OMISSION(S)? Q U E S T I O N : A R E W E P U R P O R T E D L Y I G N O R I N G CO L O S S A L K N O W L ED G E C R I T I C A L I T Y ? L I V I N G I N T H E S O C I E T Y O F K N O W L ED G E ( T H A T A L S O E M B R A C E S T H E “ I N FO T E C H ECONOMY”) UTTERLY STATES THAT YOUR MIND WILL CATCH STATE-OF-THE-ART KNOWLEDGE BY OSMOSIS? I n a l i g n i n g b r a i n s a n d l e a d e r s h i p i n t h e t h i r d m i l l e n n iu m t o w a r d s s e i z i n g a c t i o n a b l e k n o w l e d g e c re a t i o n a n d u t i l i z a t i o n , T i c h y p o i n t s out some interesting reflections too often ignored by many private, pu b l i c , N G O , s u p r a n a t i o n a l , a n d e v e n a c a d e m i a i n c u m b e n t s : “ T h e l e ad e r s h i p j o b o f t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c en t u r y i s t o e n h a n c e b r a i n p o w e r o f an o r g a n i z at i o n b y h a v i n g l e ad e r s a t a l l l e v e l s en g a g e d i n V i r t u ou s T e a c h i n g C yc l e s . T h e c a s e h a s b e en m a d e that we now live in a knowledge era where the value of i n t e l l e c t u a l c ap i t a l h a s su p p l e m e n t a l p h y s i c a l a s s e t s . I n t h i s w o r l d , l e a d er s mu s t m a k e e v e r y o n e s m a r t e r w h i l e s i m u l t an e o u s l y a l i gn i n g t h e en e r g y a n d c o m mi t m e n t o f t h e pe o p l e i n t h ei r o r g an i z a t i on s … T h o m a s S t e w a r t , a F or t u n e E d i t o r a n d a l e a d i n g t h i n k e r i n t h e f i e l d , o u t l i n ed t h e f o u n d a t i o n s f or t h e m k n o w l ed g e ec o n o m y w i t h p o w e r f u l s i m p li c i t y i n h i s m o s t r e c en t b o o k , T h e
  • 194. 194 W e a l t h o f K n o w l e d g e : ‘ T h e k n o w l e d g e ec o n o m y s t an d s o n t h r e e p i l l a r s . T h e f i r s t : Kn o w l e d g e h a s b e c o m e w h at w e b u y , s e l l , an d d o . I t i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t f ac t o r o f p r o d u c t i o n . T h e s e c o n d p i l l a r i s a m a t e , a c o r o l l a r y t o t h e f i r st : K n o w l ed g e a s s e t s — t h a t is, i n t e l l ec t u a l capital — have become more important to c o m p a n i e s t h a n f i n a n c i a l a n d ph y s i c a l a s s e t s . T h e t h i r d p i l l ar i s t h i s : T o p r o s p e r i n t h i s n e w ec o n o m y a n d e x p l o i t t h e s e n e w l y vital assets, we n e ed new v o c ab u l ar i e s , new management t e c h n i q u e s , n e w t ec h n o l o g i e s , a n d n e w s t r a t e g i e s . O n t h r e e p i l l ar s r e s t a l l t h e n e w e c o n o m y ’ s l a w s a n d i t s p r o fi t s ’ … ” Tichy supplements: “ S t e w a r t ’ s r a n k i n g r e f l ec t s a m a s s i v e m o v e m e n t u n d er w a y t o ac t u a l l y m e a s u r e i n t e l l ec t u a l c a pi t a l … T h e c o n c e p t i s c o r r e c t a n d w e p u t S t e w ar t ’ s w o r k r i g h t a t t h e f r o n t … t o r e i n f or c e t h e i mp o r t a n c e f o r c o m p a n i e s t o c on t i n u e d e f i n i n g , m e a s u r i n g a n d i mp r o v i n g w a y s o f g e n e r at i n g n e w i n t e l l ec t u a l c a pi t a l … T e a c h i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e t h e n e e d ed r e s p o n s e t o t o d a y ’ s e m p h a s i s o n k n o w l e d g e c r e a t i o n . T o d a y , i n t e l l ec t u a l a s s e t s t r u m p p h y s i c a l assets in nearly every industry.” Tichy asserts:
  • 195. 195 “ D e s p i t e t h e b o o m an d b u s t o f t h e r ec e n t d o t - b o mb er a , t h e r e i s n o q u e s t i on t h a t w e a r e i n t h e e a r l y s t a g e s o f a n er a i n w h i c h t e c h n o l o g y a n d b i o t ec h n o l o g y w i l l h a v e i n e s c a p a b l e c o n s e q u en c e s f o r h o w b u si n e s s e s a r e r u n a n d or g a n i z e d . T h e p r ac t i c e s , s y s t e m s , policies an d mi n d - s e t s that pr e v a i l e d in the o ld industrial ec o n o m y w i l l n o t d o t h e j o b . T h e f o r e g o n e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e l a t e 1 9 9 0 s t h a t t h e o l d i n d u s t r i a l b e h e m o t h s w o u ld b e a g i l e s t ar t - u p s i s eq u a l l y w r on g f o r t h e t i m e s . ” And he also indicates: “ R a t h er , w e n o w k n o w t h a t t h e w i n n e r s o f t h e f u t u r e w i l l a d a p t and innovate to e x p l oi t emerging technological and social changes. They will be big, fast, and smart. The winners will create value by having a workforce that i s m o r e a l i g n ed , en e r g i z ed a n d s m a r t e r t h an t h e i r c o m p e t i t o r s . T h e y w i l l l e v e r a g e size an d ac t wi t h s p e ed across i n t er n a l an d e xt e r n a l o r g an i z a t i on a l b ou n d ar i e s . ” [ 4 2] CHAPTER 2 THE PEER-TO-PEER MESSAGE AMONG IGNORAMUSES (ALSO KNOWN AS SIMPLETONS)?
  • 196. 196 I gn o r a m u s e s o f s u p i n e i g n o r a n c e s p e a k i n g t o a n d w i t h o t h e r ignoramuses of supine ignorance: “ W e ’ l l i n f ec t y o u with the same orthodoxies we’ve i n f ec t e d e v e r y o n e el s e i n y o u r i n d u s t r y . ” [ 6 4 ] T h e s t u b b o r n o n e s a n d s i m p l e t o n s a r e s u r r e n d er i n g t h e i r lives to a little term called “simplicity”? G re g o r y S . P a u l a n d E a r l C o x : “T h e p o w e r a n d c o m p l e x i t y o f c o m p u t er s ar e gr o w i n g e x p o n e n t i a l l y . C o m p u t er s ar e b e c o m i n g m o r e l i k e b r a i n s . S o m et i m e d u r i n g t h e n e x t c e n t u r y , w e w i l l a s s e r t i n t h e f a s h i on o f o u r m a d e - u p F u t u r e F l i gh t au t h o r s t h a t c yb e r d e v i c e s w i l l b ec o m e c on s c i o u s an d e v e n t u a l l y wi l l m a t c h t h e p o w e r o f t h e h u m an m i n d . T h e p o w er o f t h e s e c y b er m i n d s w i l l e x t en d b e y o n d h u m an l e v e l s i n w a y s w e c a n n o t e v e n i m a g i n e. T h e s e c y b er b ei n g s w i l l p r o l i f er a t e i n v a s t n u m b er s . T h e y w i l l d e s i g n a n d b u i l d a r o b o t i c s u p e r c i v i l i z at i o n d e s t i n e d f or o u t e r s p a c e … T h e n e w c yb e r b e i n g s wi l l ‘ m o u n t u p ’ i n p o l y m o r p h i c en c l o s u r e s , i n t r i c a t el y d e s i g n ed b od i e s able to assume any mu l t i s en s o r y f or m . T h e i r m i n d s w i l l b e a s e m o t i on a l a n d i n t u i t i v e a s o u r s . T h e y wi l l b e i m m o r t a l . An d t h e y w i l l b e u s , i f w e c h o o s e … W e c e r t ai n l y w i l l n o t b e ab l e t o c o n t r o l t h e s m a r t r ob o t t h e w a y w e c on t r o l t h e c a r . R o b ot s w i l l h a v e t h ei r o w n a g e n d a s a n d m a y
  • 197. 197 h a v e n o u s e f o r m o r t a l s . D o n o t d e s p a i r . I t i s pr o b a b l e t h a t humans may be able to transfer their minds into the new c yb e r s y s t e m s a n d j o i n t h e c y b er c i v i l i z a t i on . N o t f o r t h e e l i t e a l o n e, a n y m o r e w i s h i n g t o g o r o b ot i c w i l l b e a b l e t o d o s o a s c yb e r c i v i l i z a t i o n spreads out into the universe. I n t e l l i g en t c yb e r t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l b e c o m e a s c h e a p a s s m a l l c o m pu t er s a r e t od a y . E v e n t u a l l y , c y b er c i v i l i z a t i on m a y a d j u s t t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e u n i v e r s e i t s e l f w h e n g a l a x i e s a r e n e t w o r k ed … D o t h e o l o g i a n s h a v e i t a l l w r on g ? W h e t h er G o d m a d e h u m a n k i n d o r n ot , w e c o u ld c r e a t e f o r o u r s e l v e s t h o s e w e c o u ld c a l l g o d s . A n d , a s i t i s n o w , i t w i l l b e o u r w i l l e d c h oi c e t o b e w i t h t h e m o r n ot . S c i en t i s t s w h o u n d e r s t a n d t h e s c a l e o f g e o l o g i c t i m e a g r e e ; e v e n t u a l l y , i t w i ll b e c o m e a s i f m a n k i n d n e v e r e x i s t e d . Ou r b e li e f i s t h a t i n s o m e w a y , a f t e r w e a r e g o n e f o r e v e r , w e w i l l s t i l l b e ab l e t o r e m e m b er w h at , a n d w h o , w e o n c e w e r e . ” [ 1 6 9 ] CHAPTER 2 DAKOTA TRIBAL WISDOM AN D O R G AN I Z A T I O N A L STRATEGIES “ D a k ot a t r i b a l wi s d o m s a y s t h at w h e n y o u d i sc o v e r y o u ’ r e o n a d e a d h or s e , t h e b e s t s t r a t e g y i s t o d i s m ou n t . O f c ou r s e , t h er e a r e o t h e r s t r a t e g i e s . Y ou c an c h an g e r i d er s . Y o u c a n g e t a c o m m i t t e e t o s t u d y t h e d e a d h o r s e . Y o u c an b e n c h m a r k h o w o t h er c o m p a n i e s
  • 198. 198 r i d e d e a d h o r s e s . Y o u c a n d e c l a r e t h a t i t ’ s c h e a p er t o f e ed a d e a d c h a p t er . Y o u c a n h ar n e s s s e v e r a l d e a d h or s e s t o g e t h er . B u t a f t er you’ve tried all these things, you’re still going to have to dismount.” [64] CHAPTER 2 C O M P L E X I T Y AN D T H E D E A T H O F S I M P L I C I T Y D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D S c : “ … G o v e r n m e n t p o l i c i e s a r e i n f lu e n t i a l i n t h e m a c r o s c o p i c r i s k s t h a t t h r e at e n ou r li v e s . A s a s o c i e t y h a s been t r a n s f er r e d from simple a gr a r i a n i s m to a c o m pl e x technologically-driven living standard, competing special i n t er e s t s force the government to make compromises t h at i n e v i t ab l y c r e a t e r i s k s — e v e n t h e r i s k o f w a r . ” [ 9 9 ] And Grose also argues: D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D S c : “ T h e l a w i s r ec o g n i z i n g t h e t r e n d t o w a r d c o m p l e x i t y o f l i f e an d t h e i n a b i l i t y o f t h e a v e r a g e p er s o n t o r e c o g n i z e a n d o v e r c o m e r i s k s a s s o c i at e d w i t h i t … W h er e a s o u r f o r e f at h e r s c o u l d k n o wi n g l y i n s p ec t t h e h or s e s h o e s a b l a c k s m i t h n ai l e d o n t h e i r h or s e s ’ h o o f s , t h e a v e r a g e p e r s o n t o d a y c a n n o t knowledgeably inspect a microwave oven or a car’s automatic transmission.” [99]
  • 199. 199 While people insist on “simplicity” without knowing the involved s e q u e l s , s e e h o w c o m p l e x i t y e m b e d d e d in n a tu r e o p e r a t e s i n t r u t h ! D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D S c : “ A p r i m ar y t h e m e i n A l v i n T o f f l er ’ s b e s t selling book Future SOC is that society’s rate of change is i n c r e a s i n g . E v e r y t h i n g a r ou n d u s ─ i n c l u d i n g o u r s e l v e s ─ i s r ap i d l y c h an g i n g. N o t h i n g i s st a b l e , p e r m an e n t , c o n s t an t , o r f i x e d . N e i t h e r i s r i s k . I t i s a n i n d i g en o u s e l e m e n t i n t h e v o l a t i l i t y o f l i f e . I f an y t h i n g , r i s k e x p a n d s a t a gr e a t e r r at e t h a n t h e s o c i e t a l r at e o f c h a n g e ─ d u e t o i t s r o o t s i n u n c e r t ai n t y an d i gn o r a n c e o f c on s e q u en c e s , w h i c h m u lt i p l y d u r i n g m er c u r i a l instability.” [99] T h e u n d e r s i g n ed a u t h o r a r g u e s , “ T h e o n l y m a n i f e s t at i o n o f s i m p l i c i t y t h a t I l i k e an d v a l u e ─ s o t h a t I d o n o t e n t e r t h e d e a d l y t r a p o f s e l f - l y i n g a n d s e l f - m a n i pu l a t i on an d s e l f - d o w n p l a y i n g e v e r y g r a n u l a r i t y i n d et a i l s t o b e s o l v e d ─ i s S I M P L I C I T Y t h a t , b y v i r t u e o f e x e r c i s i n g en e r g et i c d i sc e r n m en t t h r ou g h i mp e c c a b l e m i n u t e n e s s a n d i m m a c u l a t e n u an c e , i s d er i v e d on l y f r o m t h e r o ot , t h a t r o o t t h a t u n e q u i v o c a l l y s t e m s fr o m u lt i m a t e an d pr a c t i c a l understanding of utmost complexity.”
  • 200. 200 CHAPTER 2 TO BE OR NOT TO BE IN EXECUTION? Many scientific researchers are concluding that the act of setting t h e b r a i n t o r e f l e c t , m a k e a t h o u g h t , c o n c e iv e a n i d e a a n d s o o n a r e n o t m a t t e r s o f b e i n g a b s t r a c t o r o n l y in t o t h e o r y . T he y i n s i s t t h a t any action, deed or execution is preceded by the action of “firing” the genes that operate upon the neuro-cells, including the neurons. From these synaptic firings the self is set in motion beyond your most Dantesque imagination. For long many ignoramuses (also known as simpletons) have insisted that they don’t think but operate, implement, institute, operate, execute, so on and so forth. It’s impossible to operate the m i n d ( F I RS T ) t o “ C O J O I N T L Y ” o p e r a t e i n t h e p h y s i c a l a n d / o r virtual worlds (SECOND) with the absolute authorization, tutelage and mandate of the brain. Every organ and every limb exist to operate of the “life- supporting” sub-system of the greatest monarch, the brain l i t e r a l l y . I b e l i e v e t h a t a q u o t a t i o n f r o m t h e Fa r E a s t w i l l s t a g e matters in greater perspectives:
  • 201. 201 A n c i e n t C h i n e s e P r o v e r b : “I t i s n o t ou r f e et t h a t m o v e u s a l on g — i t i s ou r m i n d s . ” [ 7 9 ] W i l l t h e W e s t c o n s t i t u e n c y e v e r g e t i t t h e p r o f o u n d n e s s o f t h e s i l l y ye t m o s t a c c u r a t e s a y i n g ? CHAPTER 2 T H E I N F O R M A T I O N T E C H N O LO G Y R EV O L U T I O N A N D T H E A B S EN C E O F C O H E S I V E L AN G U A G E ? F o r a l o n g t i m e s o m e c u l tu r e s h a v e i m m e n s e l y i n s i s t e d t h a t w o r d economization is vital and proper communication etiquette. In the p r o c e s s , t o o m a n y la g g a r d s u se t h i s F A L S E a r g u m e n t t o in s i s t t h a t y o u a r e t o s p e a k a n d w r i t e b r i e f l y, e v e n i f in e c o n o m i z i n g “ w o r d s ” you are also economizing most vital facts to be ignored. And this has to be accomplished for Life without becoming b u r e a u c r a t i c a n d s t a l e m a t e - l a d e n a t a l l . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , la y i n g t h e f a c t s a n d f i g u r e s u pf r o n t y e t m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y a n d carefully, one can proceed faster before perils and benefits to sustain profitability whatever the swirling challenges. T h e I n f o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g y , T h e S oc i e t y o f K n o w l e d g e a n d t h e Global Village (that also embraces the “infotech economy”) are not s o t o b e s i m p l i s t i c a n d b r i e f e r . E v e n b e f o r e t h e a dv e n t o f t h e Internet, many top corporate leaders would tell their lieutenants
  • 202. 202 not to send to them memos longer than one page. Then, the c o r p o r a t e r o y a l c ou l d n o t e x p l a in t o t h e s h a r e h o l d e r s w h y a m a j o r o p e r a t i o n , s a y , i n A s i a w e n t s o d e e p in t o r e d n u m b e r s . T h i s i s a m a j o r b l u n d e r b y g i g a n t i c c hu n k s o f t h e c iv i l i z a t i o n . T h e J a pa n e s e a n d t h e G e r ma n , t o c i t e t w o e x a m p l e s , w i l l a l w a y s appreciate every detail. To them what is key is not the length of t h e d o c u m e n t , b u t t o b e in c o n t r o v e r t i b l e t h o r o u g h w h e t h e r i n o n e in o r f i v e h u n d r e d p a g e s . W ha t m a t t e r s i s r e le v a n c e r e g a r d l e s s o f length. Serious think tanks incumbents must go through colossal volumes o f r e s e a r c h . A n d , b e l i e v e o r n o t , t h a t m a ke s a v i t a l d i f f e r e n c e . Pay great attention to a letter that I will now quote by Napoleon to o n e o f h i s g e n e r a l . I n c i d e n t a l l y, a s i n t h e I n d u s t r i a l M i l i t a r y C o m p l e x , D A R P A , a n d N A S A i f y o u c a n pu t a n y “ l i g h t ” o r p r o f o u n d i d e a o r c o m m e n t i s u s e l e s s if i t ’ s n o t d o c u m e n t e d i n w r i t i n g . An d in operational guidelines, directives and standards anything said verbally (not in writing) has no effect at all. Napoleon wrote to his general the ensuing:
  • 203. 203 “ Y o u r l et t e r t e l l s m e n o t h i n g . Y o u w i l l h o w e v e r h a v e t o b e a b l e t o i n t er r o g a t e i n or d er t o k n o w t h e n a m e s o f t h e r e g i m e n t s a n d t h e c o m m a n d i n g g en e r a l a n d a h u n d r e d t h i n g s , a l l v e r y i m p o r t an t — t h e m o r a l e o f t h e t r o o p s , t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e y a r e f ed , t h e strength of the d i f f er e n t units, and what is k n o wn fr o m c o n s e r v a t i on s w i t h t h e c o l on e l s a n d o f f i c er s o f t h e c o r p s . … I e x p ec t ed s e v e r a l p a g e s an d I g e t o n l y t w o li n e s . R e d e e m a l l t h at b y w r i t i n g m e i n g r e a t d e t ai l . ” CHAPTER 2 ARE YOU FIGHTING AGAINST THE “DEMON OF DECAY”? “ I n t h e a g e o f r e v o l u t i on , t h e fu t u r e i s n o t an e c h o o f t h e p a s t . W h i l e e v e r y e x e c u t i v e u n d e r s t an d s t h i s i n t e l l ec t u a l l y , i t i s q u i t e a n ot h e r t h i n g t o s t a n d i n f r o n t o f y o u r o r g a n i z at i o n , a n d i n v e s t o r s , a n d b ol d l y c o n fr o n t t h e d e m o n o f d ec a y . B u t i n v e s t o r s a n d e m p l o y e e s a r e s m a r t e n o u gh t o k n o w t h at s o o n e r or l a t er every company has to a strategy ‘un-install’...” [64] A t t r i b u t e d t o R o b e r t Ke n n e d y . “T h e fu t u r e i s n o t a pr i v i l e g e b u t a p er p e t u a l c on q u e s t . ” CHAPTER 2
  • 204. 204 BONAPARTE’S PROPHECIES ON HURRICANE KATRINA’ AN D GU L F OF MEXICO’S SINCE THE N IN E T E EN T H C EN T U R Y Many people have bitterness recalling of Napoleon. Many countries i n E u r o p e a n d e s pe c i a l l y t h e Un i t e d S ta t e s h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d m i l i t a r y d o c t r i n e o n B o n a pa r t e ’ s t e a c h i n g . T h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h i s t e a c h i n g i s b e y o n d o f f i c ia l . W ha t I l i k e t h e m o s t a b o u t t h i s m a n wa s h i s i n s a t i a b l e s e a r c h f o r self-learning, and self-learning about: (1) English, (2) M a t h e m a t i c s , ( 3 ) S c i e n c e , ( 4 ) M a n a g e m e n t , ( 5) S y s t e m s A p p r o a c h , ( 6) O r g a n i z a t i o n s t e w a r d i n g , a n d ( 7 ) I n d i s p u t a b l e w i s d o m . He didn’t just like these subject matters; he applied them lavishly and thus conquered Europe and even Russia through these disciplines in times in which every portion of land in that c o n t i n e n t w a s w a g i n g w a r a m o n g n e i g h b o r s . T o o m a n y k in g s a n d queens until the Emperor rose upon all of them. B y c o a le s c i n g h i s e n t i r e b e l o v e d s u b j e c t m a t t e r s — b o t h i n t h e i r theoretical, empirical, and practical modes —, he indisputably birthed an array of composite stratagems. If you are as thoughtful as I think you are, the idea is to in-source your brain with
  • 205. 205 empirical recommendations to formulate winning composite s t r a t a g e m s i n y ou r d i v e r s e e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l a c t i v i t i e s . O n g e o l o g y N a p o l e o n g e n er a l l y r e f l e c t s : “ I t i s v e r y i m p or t a n t … t o h a v e g o o d m a p s o f a l l t h e c o u n t r y b e t w e e n t h e A d i g e , t h e P o , a n d t h e Ad d a … w h i c h w i l l p r ob a b l y b e t h e t h e a t e r o f n e w w ar s on t h e s a m e s c a l e a s t h e l a r g e m a p o f I t a l y . I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o h a v e a l l r ec o n n a i s s a n c e s m ad e a t t h e T op o g r a p h i c a l B u r e au of W ar in order that we c o u ld , if n e c e s s a r y , s e n d t h e g e n er a l s a l l s u i t a b l e i n st r u c t i o n s . T h e n , f r o m the commencement of war, they w o u ld know the defensive c a m p a i g n f i e l d - w o r k s t h at w i ll h a v e t o b e pr e p a r e d i n t h e v a r i ou s p o s i t i o n s i n c a s e o f u n f or t u n a t e d e v e l o p m e n t s … . I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e t op o g r a p h i c a l e n g i n e e r s w o r k , b u t I a m n ot s u r e t h at t h e y w o r k ac c o r d i n g t o g o o d f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s . W e h a v e t h e m pr o d u c e r e g i s t e r s o f t h e s u r v e y o f l a n d s a n d n o t m i li t a r y m a p s , wh i c h m e a n s t h at i n t w en t y y e a r s , a n d I d on ’ t k n o w h o w m a n y en g i n e er s a n d h o w mu c h m o n e y , t o m a p o n l y a p o r t i o n o f t h e d e p a r t m en t s o f R h i n e a n d M o s e l l e an d M on t - T o n n e r r e , w h i c h a r e truly important. To make twenty years to finish maps and plans i s t o w o r k t o o m u c h p o s t e r i t y …. H o w m a n y c i r c u m st a n c e s c ou l d oc c u r o v e r t h e n e x t t w e n t y y e a r s t h a t w e w ou l d r e g r et ? I f o n e o f t h e m h a d b e en o n t h e s c a l e o f a C a s s i n i m a p w e c o u ld a lr e a d y
  • 206. 206 h a v e h ad a l l o f t h e R h i n e fr o n t i e r . H o w m a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s c o u ld oc c u r o v e r t h e n e x t t w e n t y y e a r s w h er e w e w i ll r e g r e t t h e m ? … ” [113] And Bonaparte adds: “ …W h a t e v e n t s c an oc c u r , e v e n f o r t h i s ac c u m u l a t i o n o f p a p er , before we can reap any advantage from all this work? I don’t k n o w w h y w a r i s w a g ed wi t h t h i s t yp e o f m a p … T h e f a c t i s , I h a v e n o t h ad , o n m y v i s i t t o t h e R h i n e, an y m a p w h e r e I c ou ld g a i n k n o w l e d g e o f t h e c ou n t r y . W e h a v e t o d r a w m a p s o f M on t - B l a n c … a n d t h e P i e d m on t t h e s a m e p r o g r e s s t h at w e f o l l o w ed f o r t h e d e p a r t m en t s o f t h e R h i n e , n o t h i n g w i l l b e fi n i s h e d i n ou r li f e t i m e … . E n g i n e e r s ar e t o o mu c h m a s t e r s o f wh a t t h e y w i s h t o d o . I h a v e n o t a s k e d f o r an y t h i n g o t h er t h a n t h e c o m pl e t i on o f t h e C a s s i n i m a p . R e s t a s s u r e d t h a t t h e o p e r at i o n s a r e n o t d i r ec t ed o n p r o j e c t s t h at a r e t o o v a s t . E x p e r i e n c e pr o v e s t h at t h e g r e at e s t d e f e c t i n g e n er a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s t o w an t t o d o t o o m u c h : t h a t r e s u l t s i n n ot h a v i n g w h a t i s n e ed e d … O r d er t h e m e s p e c i a l l y t o m a r k c l e a r l y t h e n at u r e o f t h e d i f f er e n t r o ad s , i n o r d e r t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h o s e w h i c h a r e pr a c t i c ab l e o r i m p r a c t i c a b l e f or a r t i l l er y . I f a l l t h e d eb o u c h e s o f t h e B l ac k M ou n t ai n s a r e ac c u r a t e l y l oc a t e d , t h i s m a p w i l l b e on e o f t h e m o s t e s s e n t i a l t h a t we could have for.” [113]
  • 207. 207 CHAPTER 2 STRATEGOS I N S T I T U T E’ S FOUNDER AN D LONDON BU S I N E S S S C H O O L ’ S P R O F E S S O R O N T H E F U T U R E A N D THE DERIVED ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY FR A M E W O R K B y G a r y H a m e l , P h D : “ W e b e li e v e t h a t t h e g o a l i s n o t t o p r ed i c t the future, but to imagine a future made possible by changes in t e c h n o l o g y , l i f e s t y l e , w o r k s t y l e , r e gu l a t i on , g l o b a l g e o p o l i t i c s , and the like. And there are as many viable futures as there as i m a g i n a t i v e f i r m s t h at c an u n d e r s t a n d d e e p l y t h e d y n a m i c s a t w o r k r i g h t n o w w h i c h h o ld o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o b ec o m e t h e a u t h o r o f t h e n e w . F o r t h e f u t u r e i s n o t w h at wi l l h a p p e n ; t h e f u t u r e i s w h at i s h a p p en i n g . T h e p r e s e n t a n d t h e f u t u r e d on ’ t a b u t e a c h o t h e r , n e a t l y d i v i d e d b et w e e n t h e fi v e - y e a r p l a n a n d t h e g r e a t u n k n o w n b e y o n d . R a t h e r t h e y a r e i n t er t w i n e d . E v e r y c o m p an y i s i n t h e p r o c e s s o f b ec o m i n g — o f b e c o m i n g a n a n ac h r on i s m irrelevant to the future, or of becoming the harbinger of the f u t u r e . T h e l on g - t e r m i s n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t h a p p e n s s o m e d a y ; i t i s w h a t e v e r y c o m p a n y i s b u i ld i n g o r f o r f ei t i n g … . O n l y t h o s e w h o c a n i m a g i n e a n d p r e e m p t i v e l y c r e a t e t h e fu t u r e wi l l b e a r o u n d t o en j o y it … Creating a c o m p e ll i n g view of t o m or r o w ’ s o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d m o v i n g pr e e m p t i v e l y t o s ec u r e t h e f u t u r e a r e
  • 208. 208 t a s k s f o r n e i t h e r d i l e t t an t e s n or t h e m e r e l y i n t e ll e c t u a l c u r i o u s … Other companies, the laggards, were m or e i n t e r e s t ed in p r o t e c t i n g t h e p a s t t h an i n c r e a t i n g t h e f u t u r e … W e b el i e v e , a n d w i l l ar g u e s t r o n g l y , t h a t a c o m p a n y mu s t n o t o n l y g e t t o t h e f u t u r e f i r s t , i t m u s t g et t h e r e f o r l e s s …. A n d r e - en g i n e er i n g c h a r g e i s s i m p l y t h e p e n a l t y t h a t a c o m p a n y m u s t p a y f o r n ot h a v i n g an t i c i p a t ed t h e f u t u r e … . I f s e n i or e x ec u t i v e s d on ’ t h a v e r e a s o n a b l y d et a i l e d a n s w e r s t o t h e ‘ f u t u r e ’ s e t o f q u e s t i o n s , a n d i f t h e a n s w e r s t h e y d o h a v e ar e n ot s u b s t a n t i a l l y d i f f er e n t f r o m t h e ‘ t od a y ’ a n s w e r s , t h er e i s l i t t l e c h a n c e t h e i r c o m p a n i e s w i l l r e m ai n m a r k et l e a d e r s … . F o r m u c h o f t h e 1 9 8 0 s , I B M h a d b e en d r i v i n g t o w ar d t h e f u t u r e wh i l e l o o k i n g o u t t h e r e a r - v i e w mi r r or … . T o o o f t en , p r o f o u n d t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e f u t u r e a n d h o w t o s h a p e i t oc c u r s on l y w h en p r e s e n t s u c c e s s h a s b e en s u b s t an t i a l l y e r od e d … . C r e a t i n g t h e f u t u r e i s m o r e c h a l l e n g i n g t h an p l a y i n g c a t c h u p , i n t h at y o u h a v e t o c r e a t e y o u r o w n r o a d m a p … . T h e g o a l i s n ot s i m p l y t o b en c h m ar k a c o m p et i t or ’ s p r od u c t s an d p r oc e s s e s a n d i mi t a t e i t s m et h o d s , b u t t o d e v e l o p a n i n d e p e n d e n t p o i n t o f v i e w ab o u t tomorrow’s opportunities an d how to exploit them. P a t h b r e a k i n g i s a l ot m o r e r e w a r d i n g t h a n b e n c h m a r k i n g . On e d o e s n ’ t g e t t o t h e f u t u r e f i r s t b y le t t i n g s o m e o n e e l s e b l a z e t h e t r a i l … . P a s s e n g e r s w i l l g e t t o t h e fu t u r e, b u t t h e i r f a t e w i l l n o t b e i n t h e i r o w n h an d s . T h e i r s p r o f i t s f r o m t h e fu t u r e w i l l b e m o d e s t a t b e s t . T h o s e w h o d r i v e i n d u s t r y r e v o lu t i on — c o m p an i e s t h a t
  • 209. 209 h a v e a c l e a r , p e r m e a t ed v i e w o f w h er e t h e y w a n t t o m t a k e t h ei r i n d u s t r y a n d ar e c a p a b l e o f o r c h e s t r a t i n g r e s o u r c e s i n s i d e an d ou t s i d e t h e c o m p a n y t o g e t t h e r e fi r s t — w i l l b e h an d s o m e l y r e w a r d ed … T h e f u t u r e i s n o t a n e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f t h e p a s t . N e w i n d u s t r i a l s t r u c t u r e s w i l l su p e r s e d e o ld i n d u s t r i a l s t r u c t u r e s … . O p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t a t f i r s t b l u s h s e e m e v o l u t i on a r y wi l l pr o v e t o b e r e v o l u t i o n ar y … . A c o m m i t m en t su b s t a n t i a l en o u g h t o b e g et t h e p e r s e v e r a n c e r e q u i r ed t o c r e at e t h e f u t u r e mu s t b e b a s e d o n s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n a h u n c h …. B u t t o c r e a t e t h e f u t u r e , a c o m p a n y m u s t f i r s t b e ab l e t o f or g e t s o m e o f i t s p a s t … ‘ T h e f u t u r e w a s p r ed i c t ab l e , b u t h a r d l y a n y o n e pr e d i c t ed i t ’ … ” [ 8 7 ] CHAPTER 3 ROCKET SCIENCE ABOUT ACTUAL DISCIPLINED SUCCESS CAPTURING? D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D . S c . : “ DI S CI P L I N E S O F T H O UG H T … . A s m i g h t b e e x p ec t ed , t h e f i r s t s e t o f d i s c i p l i n e s i n v o l v e s t h i n k i n g . T h e s y s t e m s a p p r o ac h e m p l o y s o r d er l y i n d u c t i v e l o g i c . T h a t s i m p l y m e a n s t o t h i n k o r r e a s o n b y g o i n g fr o m p a r t i c u l a r f ac t s t o g e n er a l c o n c l u s i on s . T h i s t y p e o f t h o u g h t i s a l s o t h e b ac k b o n e o f t h e s c i en t i f i c m e t h od . T h e i n v e r s e — d e d u c t i v e t h o u g h t , w h i c h r e a s o n s f r o m g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s t o s p e c i f i c c on c lu s i o n s — i s a l s o u s ed a t t i m e s . B u t i t i s o f l e s s i m p or t a n c e … . A s ec o n d m e n t a l
  • 210. 210 d i s c i p l i n e s e e k s t o t a l i t y o f u n d er s t a n d i n g . T h e ob j e c t i v e o f t h i s d i s c i p l i n e i s o m n i sc i e n c e , or u n l i m i t e d k n o w l e d g e o f a s y s t e m , i t s u s e e n v i r on m e n t s , a n d i t s r i s k s . T h i s i d e a l i s t i c g o a l i s n e v e r r e a c h ed , o f c o u r s e , e v e n t h o u g h i s v i g o r o u s l y pu r s u ed . T w o q u i t e d i f f e r en t k i n d s o f u n d er s t a n d i n g ar e c o mb i n ed … . T h e or e t i c a l l y u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s r e l at e d t o c o m pr e h e n d i n g h o w a l l t h e e l e m en t s i n a s y s t e m ( f or e x a m p l e , p h y s i c a l p l a n t , pr o d u c t s pr o d u c ed , p er s o n n e l employed, management policies, and accounting m et h o d s ) a r e i n t en d ed t o i n t e r a c t w i t h o n e a n o t h er . I n c o n t r a s t , p r a c t i c a l u n d e r s t an d i n g i s k n o w i n g h o w t h e s e f a c t o r s a c t u a l l y w o r k t o g e t h er i n a r e a l w o r ld … . T h e t h i r d d i s c i p l i n e o f t h ou g h t — continued c h al l e n g e in depth — emphasizes the fact that p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n a g e r s c an n e v e r r e l a x i n t h e c o m f o r t o f a l l t h e i r a n a l y z e s . C o n s t an t v i gi l a n c e a n d s u s t a i n ed q u e s t i on i n g — ‘ W h a t i f s u c h a n d su c h h a p p en s ? ’ — i s e s s e n t i a l …. T h e t h r e e d i sc i p li n e s o f t h o u g h t c o l l ec t i v e l y i d en t i f y t h e pr o b l e m s t h at mu s t b e s o l v e d i n the system. They also produce a qualitative picture of the system … D I S C I P L I N E O F T E C H N I Q U E …. T h e p r ob l e m s t h a t h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d b y d i sc i p l i n e s o f t h ou g h t a r e n e x t r e s o l v e d b y a s e c o n d s e t o f d i sc i p l i n e s — t h o s e o f t e c h n i q u e … . S p ec i fi c m a t h e m a t i c a l t o o l s u s e d i n r i s k m a n a g e m e n t ar e n o t e x p o u n d e d h er e . H o w e v e r , B o o l e a n a l g e b r a a n d s e t t h e o r y — a s w e l l a s p r ob a b i l i s t i c l o g i c , s t at i s t i c a l m ec h a n i c s , a n d ot h e r c a lc u l a t i v e m o d e l i n g m et h o d s — a r e w i d e l y e m p l o y e d t o s o l v e c o m p l e x pr o b l e m s [ “ a d v a n c e d
  • 211. 211 problems”] in a system …. Complexity of most systems also forces t h e u s e o f s y s t e m a n a l y s i s m e t h o d s t o s o l v e d i f f i c u l t p r ob l e m s . S e v e r a l t y p e s ( f or e x a m p l e , F au l t T r e e An a l y s i s or H a z a r d M o d e a n d E f f e c t A n a l y s i s ) t h a t a r e u s ed e x t en s i v e l y i n r i s k - r e l a t ed i s s u e s …. A u t o m a t i c p r oc e s s i n g c a p ab i l i t y b y c o m pu t er s m a k e s a c o n s i d er a b l e t e c h n i c a l c on t r i b u t i o n t o s o l v i n g s y s t e m pr o b l e m s . F or e x a m p l e , m a n y f u n c t i o n s f or m e r l y p e r f o r m ed b y p e o p l e c a n b e m u c h m or e r a p i d l y a n d e f f i c i en t l y d on e b y c o m p u t e r s … . T h e s e t h r e e p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g t e c h n i q u e s , t a k en t o g e t h e r , a l s o pr o d u c e q u a n t i t at i v e a s s u r an c e t h at the system is adequate for its i n t en d ed o b j ec t i v e s …. D I S C I P L I N E S O F P R O C E D U R E … O n e o f DI t h e g r e a t e s t d i f f e r en c e s b e t w e en t h e s y s t e m s a p p r o a c h t o pr o b l e m s o l v i n g a n d ot h e r c h o i c e s l i e s i n t h i s t h i r d s e t o f d i sc i p l i n e s . I n f ac t , i t i s t h e e a s i e s t w a y t o t e ll w h e t h e r a pr o b l e m h a s b e e n a t t a c k ed s y s t e m a t i c a l l y or n ot … . s t i m u l a t ed t h e e s t ab l i s h m e n t o f p r o c ed u r a l d i s c i p l i n e s . P a p e r w o r k a n d r e c or d s a r e a n a t h e m a s t o e v e r y o n e wh o h a s t o c r e a t e t h e m . Y e t , b e c au s e o f c o m p l e x i t y , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o h a v e a d o c u m e n t ed t r a i l , f o r s e v e r a l r e a s o n s . Fi r s t , i n c o m p l i c at e d s i t u at i o n s , ob j e c t i v e r e v i e w b y s o m e o n e o t h e r t h a n t h e p er s o n w h o p er f o r m a fu n c t i o n i s g e n er a l l y r e q u i r ed . S e c on d , … , y o u n e ed i t n ot o n l y f or f a i l u r e a n a l y s i s b u t f o r s u c c e s s a n a l y s i s a s w e l l ! O t h er w i s e , y o u h a v e t o a l w a y s s t a r t o v e r a t ‘ s q u ar e o n e . ’ … . T h er e a r e t w o m a j o r d i s c i p l i n e s o f p r oc e d u r e s . T h e f i r s t — s y s t e m e n gi n e e r i n g p r oc e d u r a l r e q u i r e m e n t s … .
  • 212. 212 R e s u l t s o f w o r k c o m p l e t ed — su c h a s Fu n c t i o n a l F l o w B l o c k D i a g r a m s , r e s o u r c e a l l oc a t i o n s h e e t s , a n d t r a d e - o f f s t u d i e s — a r e d o c u m e n t ed a n d r et a i n ed f o r f u t u r e r e f e r en c e … . C o m p l e t e , u n a m b i g u o u s t e c h n i c a l w r i t i n g i s a n ot h e r i d e a l n e v e r r e a c h ed . B u t t o t h e d e gr e e t h a t t h e d o c u m e n t ed i n f or m a t i o n i s b ot h c o m p l e t e an d f r e e f r o m mi s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h e d ec i s i on - m a k i n g w o r k l o a d i s r e d u c ed . T h i s i s t r u e b ot h a t t h e t i m e o f d e c i s i on an d a t l a t e r t i m e s o f r e c on s i d e r at i o n …. . ” [ 9 9 ] I n c i d e n ta l l y , pe o p l e e r r o n e o u s l y t h i n k o f c o m p u t e r s w h e n e v e r t h e y hear the word “system.” G ra p h i c s c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e s e t h r e e d i s c i p l i n e s a r e v ie w a b l e a t http://bit.ly/dxmXQ6 CHAPTER 3 INTRODUCTORY QUOTATIONS – AN D W IT H C O M M E N T A R I E S – B Y E N L I G H T EN E D M I N D S ! There is a great deal of publishing about change and coping with it and its consequences. I have the firmest belief that there is a huge la c k o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g h o w c ha n g e c a n c h a n g e i t s o w n n a t u r e . Bacon, ensuing, makes a legendary quotation about it.
  • 213. 213 S i r F r a n c i s B a c o n : “ H e t h a t w i l l n ot a p p l y n e w r e m ed i e s m u s t e x p ec t n e w e v i l s , f o r t i m e i s t h e g r e a t e s t i n n o v a t o r . ” [ 2] Understanding the future? “,,,, past or future, was a succession of violent breaks o r waves, with no base at all.” [135] How to prevail? James Thomson (1700 - 1749) ─ a Scottish poet and playwright ─ argues: “ G r e a t t r i a l s s e e m t o b e a n e c e s s a r y p r e p ar a t i o n f o r g r e at d u t i e s . ” [ 1 3 7 ] Spiritual author and leadership? John C. Maxwell (born 1947) ─ an evangelical Christian author, s p e a k e r , a n d pa s t o r w h o h a s w r i t t e n m o r e t h a n 5 0 b o o k s ─ “A l e ad e r i s o n e w h o k n o w s t h e w a y , g o e s t h e w a y , a n d s h o w s t h e way.” What do humans wish to do with their life and universe?
  • 214. 214 S i m o n C o n w a y M o r r i s , P h D : “B a r r i n g a d a r i n g t ec h n o l o g y i n t h e f u t u r e , h u m a n c i vi l i z a t i on w i l l b e h ar d - p r e s s e d t o d e s t r o y o r d e f l e c t i n c o m i n g b o l i d e s [ m e t e or i c f i r e b a l l s] an d s o a v o i d i m p ac t - d r i v en c at a s t r o p h e s . . . . en m e s h e d i n m ed i e v a l c r u e lt y , u n w i l li n g t o f a c e t h e b o u n d l e s s l y h ap p y f u t u r e; a f u t u r e t h a t , st r a n g e t o s a y , i s a l w a y s j u s t ar o u n d t h e c or n er . . . . W e s t e r n c u l t u r e ' s p en c h an t f or r e g a r d i n g s c i en c e an d t e c h n o l o g y a s t h e g u ar a n t or s of indefinite progress toward some hazy but glorious future p ar a d i s e . . . . ” [ 1 1 8 ] I n 1 9 9 0 B r a d L e i t h a u s e r , N e w Y o r k e r m a d e a lu c i d c o m m e n t pe r t a i n i n g t o t h e r a t e o f c ha n g e a t t h a t t i m e : “ … i t r e m i n d s u s t h at , i n ou r ac c e l er a t i n g , h e a d l o n g e r a , t h e f u t u r e p r e s s e s s o c l o s e u p o n u s t h a t t h o s e w h o i g n o r e i t i n h a b i t n o t t h e pr e s e n t b u t t h e p a s t . ” [106] Three and Half Millenniums of Risk Management practice? “ M o s e s wr o t e n e a r l y 3 , 5 0 0 y e a r s a g o : ‘ E v e r y n e w h ou s e mu s t h a v e a gu a r d r ai l a r o u n d t h e ed g e o f t h e f l at r o o f t o p t o p r e v e n t a n y o n e f r o m f a l l i n g o f f a n d b r i n g i n g gu i l t t o b o t h t h e h ou s e an d its owner.” [99] H o w r e a l l y e m p o w e r e d a n d d i s - e m p o w e r e d a r e w e?
  • 215. 215 S te w a r t B r a n d ( 1 9 6 8 ) : “ W e ar e a s g o d s a n d m i g h t a s w e ll g et g o o d a t i t . ” [ 1 0 4] Thirty years without education reforms in the West and the prevalent sequel going unpaid until when? C a r l S a g a n : “ W e l i v e i n a s o c i e t y e xq u i s i t e l y d e p e n d e n t on sc i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y , i n w h i c h h ar d l y a n y o n e k n o w s a b o u t s c i en c e a n d technology.” [104] Where does the computation care the most? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r : “I r r i g a t e y o u r r ad i an t t h i n k i n g i r r a d i an t l y b ac k a n d f o r t h t o c o m pu t r o n i u m a n d mu l t i v er s e u n t i l y o u s t ar t s e i z i n g a c t i o n ab l e an d a p p l i c a b l e knowledge from those t h e a t er s of operations in which you e x ec u t e. ” 4 : 0 5 a . m . U S A ’ s E S T — M o n d a y , J u n e 2 1 , 2 0 1 0 — [ 8 4 ] , [ 8 5 ] , [ 9 2] T h e r e a r e m a n y t h a t b e l i e v e t o h a v e a v e s t e d i n t e r es t i n fossilized pasts. To those Hamel has a word of wisdom. P r o f . G a r y H a m e l , P h D : “ D en i a l i s t r a g i c . De l a y i s d e a d l y . ” [ 6 4 ]
  • 216. 216 Zero emotional intelligence, zero political correction, and only genuineness’? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r : “I n c e s s a n t l y f o l l o w c o n st r u c t i v e y o u r o m n i s c i en c e - d r i v e n b li s s a C a p p e l l a w i t h o u t i n n u e n d o s f or L i f e . ” [ 9 2] W h a t c a n k n o w l e d g e d o f o r p r o g r e s s a n d m o d er n i t y ? Edward Teller: “The s c i en c e of today is the technology of t o m or r o w . ” [ 8 3] Are you emotionally stable before the future? M a r c u s A u r e l i u s A n t o n i n u s : “ N e v e r l e t t h e fu t u r e d i st u r b y o u . Y o u w i l l m e et i t , i f y o u h a v e t o , w i t h t h e s a m e w e a p o n s o f r e a s o n w h i c h t o d a y a r m y o u a g a i n s t t h e pr e s e n t . ” [ 9 6 ] W h a t c o m p u t e s w h a t a n d t h r ou g h w h i c h ? I j u s t w o n d e r! The undersigned and the present material’s author: “It seems to m e t h at D a r k M a t t e r i s t h e U n i v e r s e ’ s c o m p u t a t i on a l h ar d w ar e
  • 217. 217 w h i l e t h e D a r k E n er g y i s t h e U n i v e r s e ’ s c o m p u t a t i on a l s o f t w a r e. ” [111] Concurrent paradoxes are useful to applied science? E d w a r d T e l l e r : “ T w o p a r ad o x e s a r e b et t er t h a n o n e; t h e y m a y even suggest a solution.” [93] T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l ’ s a u t h o r : “ T h e U n i v er s e e mb e d s a n d / o r s o u r c e s c o m p u t i n g a n d c a l c u l a t i n g c ap a b i li t i e s into your prepared-mind bio computer. W h e t h er you take ad v a n t a g e o r n o t , t h a t ’ s a n o t h e r b a l l g a m e . ” [ 9 2] Is there future cleverness? Can we ask Bill Gates? P a t r i c k D i x o n : “ T a k e h o l d o f t h e fu t u r e or t h e f u t u r e w i l l t a k e h o ld o f y o u — b e f u t u r e wi s e . ” [ 9 6 ] Will the immutable life-cycle will be altered with nano- technology and bio-technology? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l ’ s a u t h o r : “ Un t i l t h e v o y a g e t h r ou g h r i g o r m o r t i s i s c o m p l e t ed , t h e r e h ad b e t t e r b e r i g o r j u r i s o n l y . ” [ 9 2]
  • 218. 218 Have we captured the necessary knowledge, awareness and understanding of the Twentieth-One Century ? G B N ’ s C E O E a m o n n N e l l y : “ W e h a v e g l ob a l i z e d t h e ec o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e , b u t w e h a v e n ot y e t g l o b a li z e d o u r s e n s e o f ou r s e l v e s . ” [89] From neuron activation to execution activation? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l ’ s a u t h o r : “T h i n k l o n g en o u g h t o o v e r - ac c o m p l i s h f o r e v e r . ” [ 9 2] What is the expectation? D r . B e r n i e S i e g e l , M D : “ H o p e i s a m e m o r y o f t h e fu t u r e . ” [ 5 9 ] W ha t i s t h e s u c c e s s f u l “ s t u p i d ” i n T w e n t i e t h - O n e C e n tu r y ? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r : “ I n o r d e r t o h a v e a s u c c e s s f u l ‘ t h e e c o n o m y f i r s t , s t u p i d , ’ y o u mu s t FI R S T succeed thoroughly on ‘the applied omniscience, stupid’ notion.” — 1 1 : 0 7 p . m . U S A ’ s E S T — S a tu r d a y , J u l y 1 8 2 0 1 0 — [ 9 2 ]
  • 219. 219 In search of those that are searching? T . S . E l l i o t : “ W e m u s t n e v e r c e a s e f r o m e x p l o r i n g . At t h e e n d o f a l l o f o u r e x p l o r i n g w i l l b e t o a r r i v e at w h er e w e b e g an a n d k n o w t h e p l ac e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . ” [ 1 5 3 ] Out-of-this-box is too timid and incomplete a discernment process! C E O E m e r i t u s o f V i s a I n t e r n a t i o n a l , D e e H o c k : “T h e p r o b l e m i s n e v e r h o w t o g e t n e w i n n o v a t i v e t h ou g h t s i n t o y o u r mi n d , b u t h o w t o g e t o l d o n e s ou t . ” [ 1 5 3 ] D o w e r es p e c t s o l e m n l y t i m e a n d i t s p a s s a g e ? W i l l i a m S ha k e s p e a r e ( M a c b e t h ) : “T o - m o r r o w , an d t o - m o r r o w , a n d t o - m o r r o w , c r e e p s i n t h i s p e t t y p a c e fr o m d a y t o d a y , t o t h e l a s t s y l l a b l e o f r e c or d ed t i m e ; a n d a l l ou r y e s t e r d a y s h a v e l i g h t e d f o o l s t h e w a y t o d u s t y d e at h . Ou t , o u t , b r i e f c a n d l e ! L i f e ' s b u t a w a l k i n g s h a d o w , a p o o r p l a y e r t h a t st r u t s a n d f r et s h i s h ou r u p o n t h e s t a g e , an d t h e n i s h e a r d n o m o r e; i t i s a t al e t o l d b y a n i d i o t , f u l l o f s o u n d an d f u r y , s i gn i f y i n g n o t h i n g . ” [ 9 6 ] What can we do about time passage?
  • 220. 220 W. E. Gladstone — British Prime Minister — (1809 — 1898): “You c a n n ot f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e f u t u r e. ” [ 1 7 ] Future and the genius? E r n e s t D i m n e t : “ T o o o f t e n w e f o r g e t t h at g e n i u s , t o o , d e p e n d s u p o n t h e d a t a w i t h i n i t s r e a c h , t h a t e v e n A r c h i m ed e s c o u ld n ot have devised Edison's inventions.” [96] Future-liable if you don’t pay attention? J o h n G a l s w o r t h y : “ I f y o u d o n 't t h i n k a b o u t t h e f u t u r e , y o u c a n n o t h a v e o n e. ” [ 9 6 ] E c h o i n g t h e P R E S EN T i n h i n d s i g h t n ow ? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r : “T h e P R E S E N T i s j u s t t h e m an i f e s t a t i o n o r e x p r e s s i o n o f a n e c h o i n r e v e r s a l b y t h e F U T U R E an d / or o n e o f i t s a l t er e g o s : t h e U n i v e r s e , t h e M u l t i v e r s e , C o m p u t r o n i u m , o r Fu t u r et r o n i u m . ” Taking ownership of times to come?
  • 221. 221 M a l c o l m X : “ T h e f u t u r e b e l on g s t o t h o s e w h o pr e p a r e f o r i t t od a y . ” [ 9 6 ] Either or what? or A n t h o n y J . D ' A n g e l o : “ R u n t o m e e t t h e fu t u r e o r i t ' s g o i n g t o r u n you down.” [96] How do we sign up by phenomenal lots of tons of smart work? L e o n a r d I . S w e e t : “ T h e f u t u r e i s n ot s o m e t h i n g w e e n t e r . T h e future is something we create.” [96] I s t o o m u c h h i s t o r y s t u d y i n g d a n g e r ou s ? M i c h a e l C i b e n k o : “ O n e p r o b l e m w i t h g a z i n g t o o f r eq u en t l y i n t o pr t h e p a s t i s t h a t w e m a y t u r n a r ou n d t o fi n d t h e f u t u r e h a s r u n o u t on us.” [96] W h e r e i s t h e q u a d r a n t d o m i c i l e o f t ru e s u c c e s s ? D e n n y C r u m : “ M o s t o f o u r fu t u r e li e s a h e a d . ” [ 9 6 ]
  • 222. 222 Perpetual learning for Life? J o h n W a y n e : “ T o m o r r o w i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i n li f e . C o m e s i n t o u s a t m i d n i g h t v e r y c l e a n . I t ' s p er f e c t wh e n i t ar r i v e s a n d i t p u t s i t s e l f i n ou r h a n d s . I t h o p e s w e ' v e l e a r n e d s o m e t h i n g from yesterday.” [96] I n S h o c k , A w e a n d B e w i l d e r m e n t f o r n o t U n d er s t a n d i n g ? A lv i n T o f f l e r : “ M an h a s a li m i t e d b i ol o g i c a l c a p a c i t y f o r c h an g e . W h e n t h i s c a p a c i t y i s o v e r w h e l m ed , t h e c ap a c i t y i s i n fu t u r e shock.” [96] D o p e o p l e h a v e a n i n n a t e “ l o v e a f f a i r ” w i t h s p e e d? H e n r y F o r d : “ I f I h ad a s k e d p e o p l e w h a t t h e y w a n t e d , t h e y w ou l d h a v e s a i d f a s t e r h or s e s . ” [ 9 6 ] Andrew Hiles argues about the “future” (2007): “In many senses t h e f u t u r e w i l l b e m o r e o f t h e s a m e . T h e r e w i l l s t i ll b e c r o s s - c u l t u r a l i s s u e s t o d e a l w i t h , d i f f e r en t p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m s , c u r r e n c y p r o b l e m s , d i f f e r e n t c a l e n d a r s y s t e m s , d i f f e r en t v a l u e s , c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r en t s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s , e t c . , b o t h wi t h i n A s i a a n d b e t w e e n A s i a an d t h e ot h e r t r ad i n g b l o c s . F i r e s wi l l s t i ll o c c u r , p et t y
  • 223. 223 c r i m e w i l l s t i l l g o o n , e c on o m i c s w i l l b o o m a n d d u s t , c o r r u pt i o n w i l l s t a y , i l l e g a l e c on o m i c a c t i v i t i e s wi l l c o n t i n u e , w o r k p l ac e p r o b l e m s wi l l n o g o a w a y ─ a n d s o on . T h e b a s i c ‘ s t u f f ’ o f b u s i n e s s a n d B C P [ B u si n e s s C o n t i n u i t y P l a n n i n g] wi l l c o n t i n u e t o p r o v i d e t h e c h a l l e n g e s t h at a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d b u s i n e s s e s f ac e . BUT THERE WILL BE NEW OR ESCALATED CHALLENGES THAT HAVE TO BE FACED.” [135] Recalling not to fail into what? G e o r g e S a n t a y a n a : “ T h o s e w h o c a n n o t r e m e m b er t h e p a s t a r e c o n d e mn e d t o r ep e a t i t . ” [ 9 9 ] T h e l a r g e r h i s t o r i c p e r s p e c t i v e i s g o od f o r w h i c h p u r p o s e? U n k n o w n a u t h o r : “ T h o s e w h o s t ar e at t h e p a s t h a v e t h e i r b a c k s t u r n e d t o t h e f u t u r e . ” [ 9 6] Grave implications of contrarians to fostering change? M a x P l a n c k : “ A n i m p or t a n t s c i en t i f i c i n n o v a t i o n r a r e l y m a k e s i t s w a y b y gr a d u a l l y wi n n i n g o v e r an d c o n v e r t i n g i t s o p p o n en t s : W h a t d o e s h a p p e n i s t h at t h e o p p o n en t s g r a d u a l l y d i e o u t . ” [ 9 6 ]
  • 224. 224 W h o g e t s t h e pr a c t i c a l a n d u s e f u l m e r i t ? Thomas Edison: “I have more respect for the fellow with a single i d e a w h o g et s t h er e t h an f o r t h e f el l o w w i t h a t h ou s a n d i d e a s w h o d o e s n o t h i n g . ” [ 9 6] Learning from the past in reversal? D i l l o n W a r d i a n : “ T h o s e w h o k n o w t h e i r p a s t a r e t e m pt e d t o r e p e at i t b u t o n t h e wi n n i n g s i d e . ” [ 9 6 ] Buying your membership to the future? M e h m e t I l d a n : “ F u t u r e i s a n u n k n o w n c o u n t r y w h i c h r eq u i r e s t ou g h v i s a s f o r a n y o n e t o en t e r . N o t a l l o f u s w i l l g et t h e c h an c e to visit it.” [96] T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r i a l ’ s a u t h o r : “ C or r e l a t e everything el s e wi t h the i g n o r ed and unthinkable ‘else’ of e v e r y t h i n g el s e f or e v e r . ” [ 9 2] In seriously rigorous thinking, there is an important maxim to bear in mind at all times. It establishes: “whatever is now working is a l r e a d y o b s o l e t e . ” I n t h e c a se o f a l r e a d y - f o r e w a r n e d s c ie n t i s t s ,
  • 225. 225 t h i s i m p l i e s t o e v o l v e o r t o r a d i c a l i z e t h e e v o lu t i o n o f a n y t a n g i b l e s o r i n ta n g i b l e s . How does one discipline the mind? H o n o r é d e B a l z a c : “ T h e m i n d i s en a b l ed b y r i g i d d ed u c t i o n t o l i n k i t w i t h t h e p a s t ; a n d t o m a n , t h e p a s t i s s i n g u l a r l y l i k e t h e f u t u r e; t e l l h i m w h a t h a s b e e n , an d y o u s e l d o m f ai l t o s h o w h i m w h a t w i l l be.” [82] I s i t a b o u t i n s p i r a t i o n , i s i t a b o u t k n o w l e dg e or i s i t a b o u t both jointly? T o t h i s e n d D r . B e r n i e S ie g e l , M D : “ I ’ m a l w a y s s a y i n g t h at k n o w l e d g e i sn ’ t p o w e r i f y o u d o n ’ t h a v e i n s p i r a t i o n . ” [ 5 9 ] How can one unleash the energies of creation? T h e Y o g a S u t r a s o f P a n t a j a l i : “ W h en y o u ar e i n s pi r ed b y s o m e g r e at p u r p o s e , s o m e e x t r a o r d i n a r y p r o j ec t , a l l y o u r t h ou g h t s b r e a k t h e i r b ou n d s . Y o u r m i n d t r a n s c en d s li m i t at i o n s , y o u r c o n s c i ou s n e s s e x p an d s i n e v e r d i r e c t i o n , a n d y o u f i n d y o u r s e l f i n a n e w , g r e at a n d w o n d e r f u l w o r ld . ” [ 1 5 3 ]
  • 226. 226 What can we do instead of what can we stomach and mind? D a n d r i d g e M . C o l e : “ W e c a n n o t p r ed i c t t h e f u t u r e , b u t w e c a n invent it.” [96] H o w d o e s o n e c o n n e c t t od a y w i t h f u t u r e ? “ M y C o l l e a gu e s at t h e L o n g F o u n d a t i o n h a v e h e lp e d m e s e e t h e s u r p r i s i n g c on n ec t i o n s b et w e e n t od a y a n d t h e d e e p fu t u r e. ” [ 7 8 ] During the Cold War times, there is an invaluable thought about the moment’s zeitgeist. President John F. Kennedy’s speech on September 12, 1962 at Race U n i v e r s i t y : “ D e s p i t e t h e s t r i k i n g f ac t t h a t m o s t o f t h e s c i e n t i s t s that the world has ever known are alive and working today, d e s p i t e t h e f ac t t h a t t h i s N a t i o n ’ s o wn s c i en t i f i c m a n p o w e r i s d o u b l i n g e v er y 1 2 y e a r s i n a r a t e o f gr o w t h m o r e t h an t h r e e t i m e s t h a t o f ou r p o p u l a t i o n a s a w h o l e , d e s p i t e t h at , t h e v a s t st r e t c h e s o f t h e u n k n o w n a n d t h e u n an s w e r e d a n d t h e u n f i n i s h e d s t i ll f ar ou t s t r i p o u r c ol l e c t i v e c o m pr e h e n s i o n . ” [ 8 0] “ P a s t V e r s u s N o w C a pa r i s o n ” n o w a v a i la b l e i n s l i d e s i s a g o o d graphic perspective of the impact of change. [93]
  • 227. 227 T h e C h a i r m a n a n d C E O o f t h e J u r a n I n s t i t u t e , A. B l a n t o w G o d f r e y , i n 1 9 9 5 i n d i c a t e d t o t h i s e n d : “ W h at w e k n o w t od a y i s f a r g r e a t er t h a n wh a t w e k n e w a f e w y e a r s a g o . ” [ 9 1] What kind of a keel does a vessel need to explore the unexplored with the unthinkable thinking perspective? “ A t t h e b e gi n n i n g o f t h i s b o o k I u s e d r i v e r r a f t i n g a s a n a n a l o g y f o r t h e f u t u r e. B u t p e r h a p s s a i l i n g i s a b e t t e r m et a p h o r . ” [ 7 8 ] H o w e a r l y y o u r pu n c t u a l i t y m u s t b e ? M . E l B a n n a : “ T h e o n l y w a y y o u c an s e e t h e f u t u r e i s i f y o u ' r e a h e ad o f y o u r o w n t i m e . ” [ 9 6 ] Are we lacking what type of understanding? D r . G a r g o s i a n : “ W e ar e w a l k i n g t o w a r d t h e e d g e o f a c l i f f — b l i n d f o l d ed … O u r a b i l i t y t o u n d er s t a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l f or f u t u r e ab r u p t c h a n g e s i n c l i m a t e i s l i m i t e d b y o u r l a c k o f u n d e r st a n d i n g of the processes that control them.” [78]
  • 228. 228 T h e r e i s a n i m p o r t a n t s c i e n t i f ic t r u i s m t o b e a r i n m i n d a t a n y c o s t . I t e n s u e s , “ e v e r y t h i n g i s r e l a t ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” T h r o u g h a b s o l u t e c o g n i t i o n a n d s c i e n t i f i c m et h o d o l o g y a p p l i c a t i o n , H o w d o e s o n e i d e n t i f y t h e dr i v i n g f o r c e s o f underneath that will re-shape it all? “ T h i s i s n o t f o r t u n e - t el l i n g . T h i s i s n o t c r y s t a l - b a ll g a z i n g . T h i s i s m er e l y d e s c r i b i n g f u t u r e i m p li c a t i o n s o f s o m e t h i n g t h a t h a s a l r e a d y h a p p e n ed . ” [ 7 8 ] W i l l w e e v e r u n d e r s t a n d t h a t w h a t r e a l l y d o es n ’ t e x i s t a t a l l i s t h e P R E S E N T — s o c a l l e d ? A n d t h a t w h a t we c a l l P R ES E N T i s a b r i e f i n t e r i m f r o m a n d b y t h e F U T U R E ? Andrei Linde: “It was never easy to look into the future, but it is p o s s i b l e a n d w e s h o u l d n ot m i s s o u r c h an c e . ” [ 9 6 ] S o m e o f t h e pr o b l e m s we h a v e m i g h t b e e x p l i c a t e d h e r e . En s u i n g : M r s . M a n l e y ( 1 6 6 3 — 1 7 2 4 ) — E n g l i s h n ov e l i s t a n d p l a y w r i g h t : “ N o t i m e l i k e t h e p r e s e n t . ” [ 2 ] T h e o n l y p r o b l e m , M r s . M a n l e y, i s t h a t your beloved “present” is beyond impermanent.
  • 229. 229 Rehearsing into authentic own omniscience-based bliss? T h e u n d e r s i g n e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t m a t e r ia l ’ s a u t h o r : “W i t h i n a l l g e n u i n e n e s s , r e h e a r s e a n d pr a c t i c e w h o y o u w a n t t o b e a n d w h a t y o u w an t t o b e i n e x e c u t i o n . ” [ 9 2 ] Where is our north’s domicile? J e a n - M a r i e G u y a u : “ T h e f u t u r e i s n ot w h a t i s c o m i n g a t u s , b u t w h at w e a r e h e a d ed f o r . ” [ 9 6 ] The future, the West, Europe and the ensuing perspective. C o u n t L e v N i k o l a e v i c h T o l s t o i ( 1 8 2 8 — 1 9 1 0 ) : “ I a m c o n v i n c ed t h at t h e h i s t o r y o f s o - c a l l e d sc i e n t i f i c w o r k i n o u r f a m o u s c en t u r i e s o f European civilization will, in a c ou p l e of h u n d r ed years, r e p r e s e n t an i n e x h au s t i b l e s o u r c e o f l a u g h t er a n d s o r r o w f o r f u t u r e g en e r a t i o n s . T h e l e a r n e d m en o f t h e s m a l l w e s t e r n p a r t o f ou r E u r o p e a n c on t i n e n t l i v e d f o r s e v e r a l c e n t u r i e s u n d e r t h e i l l u s i o n t h at t h e e t er n a l b l e s s e d l i f e w a s t h e W e s t ’ s fu t u r e . T h e y w er e i n t er e s t e d i n t h e p r o b l e m o f w h en a n d w h er e t h i s b l e s s e d l i f e would come. But they never thought of how they were going to m a k e t h e i r l i f e b et t e r . ” [ 6 9 ]
  • 230. 230 A p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t m i g h t p r o v e h e l p f u l s o m e w h a t n ow : H o r a c e M a n n ( 1 7 9 6 — 1 8 5 9 ) — A m e r i c a n e du c a t i o n i s t : “ L o s t , y e s t e r d a y , s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n S u n r i s e a n d S u n s et , t w o g o ld e n h ou r s , e ac h s e t w i t h s i x t y d i a m o n d mi n u t e s . N o r e w a r d i s o f f er e d , f o r t h e y ar e g o n e f o r e v e r . ” [ 2] Success comes along with tons and tons of smart and smarter work! G i f f o r d P i n c h o t : “ T h e v a s t p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f o u r g r e a t f u t u r e wi l l become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future.” [93] W h en e v o l u t i o n g e t s r a d i c a l i z e d i n a p p l i e d s c i e n c e , a s o - called breakthrough takes place. Hence, Einstein makes the case now. A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ I t h a s b e c o m e a p p a l li n g l y o b v i ou s t h a t o u r t e c h n o l o g y h a s e xc e e d ed ou r h u m a n i t y … W e s h a l l r e q u i r e a s u b s t a n t i a l l y n e w m an n e r o f t h i n k i n g i f m a n k i n d i s t o s u r v i v e . ” [4]
  • 231. 231 If every one of the seven continents have been discovered, Is there anyone missing yet? What about a continent — not y et k n o w n — t h a t i s l i g h t l y c o v e r e d b y t h e s e a o c e a n s , b u t with the global climate crisis might appear? I just wonder! “ T h i s b r i d g e t o t h e f u t u r e w i l l en a b l e t h o s e w h o d a r e t o m a k e t h e j ou r n e y f r o m t h i s c en t u r y t o t h e n e x t … a n d b e y o n d . ” [ 7 8 ] The quotation about Physics, H i s t o ry , Education, Mathematics and the Future. “ T h e f u t u r e o f T h ou g h t , an d t h er e f o r e o f Hi s t o r y , l i e s i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e p h y s i c i s t s , an d … t h e fu t u r e h i s t o r i a n mu s t s e e k h i s ed u c a t i on i n t h e w o r l d o f m a t h e m a t i c a l ph y s i c s . A n e w g en e r a t i o n mu s t b e b r ou g h t u p t o t h i n k b y n e w m e t h od s , an d i f o u r h i s t o r i c a l d e p a r t m en t s i n t h e U n i v e r s i t i e s c an n o t e n t e r t h i s n e x t p h a s e , t h e p h y s i c a l d e p ar t m e n t s w i l l h a v e t o a s s u m e t h i s t a s k a l o n e . ” [ 6 9 ] In understanding at least the complexities embedded in the U n i v e r s e , t h e r e i s a n E n g l i s h m a n w i t h a g r e a t p e rs p e c t i v e . His quote ensues: G.K. Chesterton (1874 — 1936), Essayist, Novelist, and Poet: “The r e a l t r o u b l e w i t h t h i s w o r ld o f o u r s i s n ot t h a t i t i s a n
  • 232. 232 unreasonable world, n or that it is a reasonable on e . The c o m m o n e s t k i n d o f t r o u b l e i s t h a t i t i s n e a r l y r e a s o n a b l e , b u t n ot q u i t e . L i f e i s n ot an i l l o g i c a li t y ; y e t i s a t r a p f or l o gi c i an s . I t looks just a little more mathematical and regular than it is; its e x a c t i t u d e i s o b v i ou s , b u t i t s i n e x ac t i t u d e i s h i d d e n , i t s wi l d n e s s li e s i n w a i t . ” [ 5 7 ] What are intelligence and the brain’ and g en o m e ’ s p r o j e c t e d m i n d g o o d f o r? R . W . Y o u n g : “ I n t e l l i g en c e i s t h at f a c u l t y o f m i n d b y w h i c h o r d er i s p e r c ei v e d i n a s i t u a t i o n pr e v i o u s l y c on s i d e r ed d i s o r d er e d . ” [ 7 8 ] I n m a k i n g t h e c a s e a ga i n s t t h e s o - c a l le d “ p o w e r o f s i m p l i c i t y ” a n d c ou n t e r i n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o f c o m p l e x i t y , c h i e f l y i n a n a g e b a t h e d o f e n o r m o u s c o m p l e x i t i e s , t h e r e a re t w o p r o m i n e n t m i n d s t o qu o t e . I n o n e i n s t a n c e , D r . A l b e r t E i n s t e i n p o i n t s o u t : “T h e s i g n i f i c a n t p r o b l e m s w e f a c e c a n n ot b e s o l v e d a t t h e s a m e l e v e l o f t h i n k i n g w e w e r e a t w h en w e c r e a t ed t h e m . ” [ 1 5 3] [ 6 0] I n s u p p o r t i n g t h i s m o t i o n f u r t h e r , D r . A u b r e y d e G r e y e s t a b l i s h e s : “T o s o l v e a v e r y c o m p l i c at e d p r ob l e m , y o u g e n e r a l l y n e ed a f a i r l y c o m p li c a t ed solution [in advance].” [59]
  • 233. 233 In the mean time, zillions and jillions will insist many times over t h a t t a c k l i n g c o m p l e x i t i e s a re n e e d l e s s , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n d o i n g e a s y “stuff” is ubiquitously fun and available. Then, Dr. Bertrand Russell will be gravely forewarning them of his famous sentence: “ I k n o w o f m or e p e o p l e w h o 'd r a t h e r d i e t h a n t h i n k . ” R eg a r d i n g people into imprudence, ignorance a n d n ot making reasonable decisions, Where can we get additional underpinnings? F r a n c i s c o J o s é d e G o y a y L u c ie n t e s ( 3 0 M a r c h 1 7 4 6 — 1 6 A p r i l 1 8 2 8 ) : “ T h e s l e e p o f r e a s o n pr o d u c e s m o n s t er s . ” [ 9 8 ] D o es a g e b e c o m e a l i a b i l i t y i n s h ow i n g t h e f u t u r i s t i c l i g h t s o f m o d e r n i t y a n d T R U E j u s t i c e i n d e e d? M a e W e t s : “ Y o u ’ r e n e v e r t o o o ld t o b e c o m e y o u n g e r . ” [ 7 8 ] Most people think that this is the “knowledge society” or the “knowledge economy” (that also embraces the “infotech economy”), b e c a u s e t h e y c a n d o “ n e t w o r k i n g ” — s o - c a l l e d — ( w h e t h e r f ru i t f u l or not) over the web and above the face of Earth v ia a technological platform termed the Internet. Look at the following take by Noel M. Tichy:
  • 234. 234 “ W e h a v e m a d e t h e c a s e t h r o u gh o u t t h i s b o o k , a n d m o s t p e o p l e a g r e e, t h a t i n t h e n e w ‘ k n o w l e d g e ec o n o m y ’ t h e k e y t o w i n n i n g i s m a x i m i zi n g h u m a n c a p i t a l. I d e a s an d k n o w l e d g e h a v e r e p l a c ed p h y s i c a l g o o d s a s t h e m o s t v a l u ed c o m m o d i t i e s i n t h e g l ob a l m a r k et p l a c e. C on s e q u en t l y , b r ai n s , e n er g y a n d t a l e n t — h u m a n capital — are the primary source of value creation. But while m a n y p e o p l e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s g r a s p t h e c on c e pt , f e w h a v e f i g u r ed o u t h o w t o r e a l l y u t i l i z e t h e t a l e n t s a n d k n o w l e d g e o f e v e r y o n e i n t h e c o m p a n y , e s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u n g e r m e mb e r s o f t h e c o m p a n y . ” [ 4 2] From mysticism to science, the future and an interesting quotation. R o s a r i o M . L e v i n s : “ M y t h i c a l t h ou g h t i s n o t pr e - s c i e n t i f i c ; r a t h e r i t a n t i c i p a t e s t h e f u t u r e s t at e o f b ei n g a sc i e n c e i n t h a t i t s p a s t movement and its present direction are always in the same s e n s e . ” [ 6 9] C h a r l e s F r a n k l i n K e t t e r i n g ( A u gu s t 2 9 , 1 8 7 6 — N o v e m b e r 2 4 o r November 25, 1958) was an American inventor and the holder of 1 4 0 pa t e n t s . H e w a s a f o u n d e r o f D e l c o , a n d w a s h e a d o f r e s e a r c h f o r G e n e r a l M o t o r s f o r 2 7 ye a r s f r o m 1 9 2 0 t o 1 9 4 7 . He h a d a s o l i d
  • 235. 235 q u o t a t i o n a b o u t t h e f u t u r e : “ T h e f u t u r e i s w h er e I e x p ec t t o s p e n d the rest of my life.” [111] The quotation on analytics, science and future. Ensuing: C h a r l e s B a b b a g e ( 1 7 9 2 — 1 8 7 1 ) : “T h e w h o l e o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d o p e r a t i o n s o f a n a l y s i s a r e n o w c a p ab l e o f b e i n g e x e c u t ed b y m a c h i n er y … A s s o o n a s a n An a l y t i c a l E n g i n e e x i s t s , i t w i l l n e c e s s a r y g u i d e t h e f u t u r e c ou r s e o f s c i e n c e . ” [ 6 9] One of America’ and the world’s greatest and most rigorous i n t e l le c t w i t h a p e r s p e c t i v e e m b e d d e d i n t h e f u t u r e . H e , M r . H e n r y Buckminster Fuller, successfully tackles a continuously and increasingly puzzling problem. As follows: Richard Buckminster Fuller reminds us of the following: “Either w a r i s o b s o l e t e , o r m en a r e . ” [ 5] Speaking seriously as I do in the entirety of this textbook, some s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h p r e l i m i n a r y ye t u n c o n f i r m e d o u t c o m e s a n d findings seem to suggest that the future rules the present. The German philosopher Nietzsche has his own lucid position. “It’s our f u t u r e t h a t l a y s d o wn t h e l a w o f o u r t od a y . ” [ 1 1 0 ]
  • 236. 236 T h e q u o t a t i o n a b o u t t h e s t u dy , t h e p a s t a n d t h e fu t u r e . S tu a r t A . C o p a n s : “ S t u d y t h e p a s t i f y o u w ou l d d i v i n e t h e fu t u r e. ” [ 6 9] T h e q u o t a t i o n a bu t f o r e t e l l i n g : U n k n o w n : “ D ec l a r e t h e p a s t , d i a g n o s e t h e p r e s e n t , [ a n d ] f or e t e l l t h e fu t u r e . ” [ 6 9 ] B y u n k n o w n a u t h o r : “ T h e f u t u r e b e l o n g s t o s c i e n c e an d t o t h o s e w h o m a k e f r i en d s w i t h s c i e n c e . ” [ 6 9 ] By unknown author this quotation is about the atom, uncertainty, s c i e n c e a n d t h e f u t u r e . F o l l o w i n g : “ … b od i e s i n t h e u n i v e r s e a n d t h o s e o f t h e l i g h t e s t a t o m ; t o i t n ot h i n g w o u l d b e u n c e r t a i n , a n d t h e f u t u r e a s t h e p a s t w o u ld b e p r e s en t t o i t s e y e s . ” [ 6 9] The Prometheus Bound quotation. A e s c h y l u s ( 4 5 3 B C) : “ P r o m e t h e u s : M y m ot h e r … f o r et o l d m e , t h at n ot b r u t e s t r e n g t h N o t v i o l en c e , b u t c u n n i n g m u s t g i v e v i c t o r y To the rulers of the future.” [69]
  • 237. 237 What to learn about what has happened? B y u n k n o w n a u t h o r : “ I t i s b ad e n o u g h t o k n o w t h e p a s t ; i t w o u ld b e i n t o l e r ab l e t o k n o w t h e fu t u r e . ” [ 6 9 ] E l l i o t o n t h e pr e s e n t a n d t h e p a s t . T . S . E l l i o t ( 1 8 8 8 — 1 9 6 5) : “ T i m e p r e s e n t an d t i m e p a s t A r e b ot h p er h a p s p r e s e n t i n t i m e f u t u r e , A n d t i m e f u t u r e c o n t a i n ed i n t i m e p a s t . ” [ 7 0 ] T h e p a s t , t h e f u t u r e a n d t h e i n t e r lu d e t h a t c o n n e c t s b o t h . Eugene O’Neill (1888 — 1953): “The only living life is in the past a n d f u t u r e … t h e p r e s e n t i s a n i n t e r lu d e … s t r a n g e i n t e r lu d e i n w h i c h w e c a l l o n p a s t an d fu t u r e t o b e ar w i t n e s s w e a r e li v i n g . ” [70] Bismarck and his lack of faith on the future.
  • 238. 238 A . J . P . T a y l o r ( 1 9 0 6 — 1 9 9 0 ) : “B i s m a r c k w a s a p o li t i c a l g e n i u s o f t h e h i g h e s t r an k , b u t h e l a c k ed o n e e s s e n t i a l q u a l i t y o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i v e s t a t e s m a n : h e h ad n o f a i t h i n t h e f u t u r e. ” [ 7 0 ] G o d , t h e n in e t e e n t h a n d t w e n t y c e n t u r i e s , a s w e l l a s t h e future. M a x F r i s c h ( 1 9 1 1 — 1 9 9 1 ) : “I n t h e n i n et e e n t h c en t u r y t h e p r ob l e m w a s t h at G od i s d e a d ; i n t h e t w e n t i et h c e n t u r y t h e pr o b l e m i s t h a t m a n i s d e ad . I n t h e n i n e t e en t h c e n t u r y i n h u m a n i t y m e a n t c r u e lt y ; i n t h e t w en t i e t h c e n t u r y i t m e a n s s c h i z o i d s e l f - a l i en a t i on . T h e d a n g e r o f t h e f u t u r e i s t h at m e n m a y b e c o m e r ob o t s . ” [ 7 0] Who does the future belong to? P i e r r e T ru d e a u ( 1 9 1 9 — 2 0 0 0 ) : “ T h e t w e n t i et h c e n t u r y r e a l l y b e l o n g s t o t h o s e w h o w i l l b u i ld i t . T h e f u t u r e c an b e p r o m i s ed t o no one.” [70] F o r es e e i n g t h e Fu t u r e o u t o f t h e F o s s i l i z e d P a s t ? Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797, an Irish statesman, author, orator, p o l i t i c a l t h e o r i s t , a n d p h i l o s o p h e r ) : “ Y o u c a n n e v e r pl a n t h e future by the past.” [70]
  • 239. 239 I t ’ s a d v a n t a g e o u s t o u n d e rs t a n d w h a t a p r o m i n e n t 1 2 0 - year-old corporation such as GE is now considering. T h i s qu o t e i s a t t r i b u t e d t o G E ’ s c u r r e n t C E O , J e f f I m m e l t : “I h a v e t o l e a d f or t o m o r r o w ’ s w o r ld . ” Question: How is the future manufactured? R e p l y b y P r o f . G a r y H a m e l, P h D : “T h e f u t u r e i s t h e c r e at i o n o f m i l l i o n s o f i n d ep e n d en t e c o n o m i c a c t o r s . ” [ 6 4] I n s p e a k i n g o f c ha n g e a n d s o c i a l s y s t e m s ’ r e a c t i o n s , i t i s w i s e t o l i s t e n t o R a l p h W a l d o E m e r s o n : “ T h er e a r e a l w a y s t w o p ar t i e s — the party of the past and the party of the f u t u r e, the e s t ab l i s h m e n t and the movement.” [64] As pe r the Oxford Dictionary, The Establishment refers to: “…social group e x e r c i s i n g au t h or i t y o r i n fl u e n c e , a n d g en e r a l l y s e e k i n g t o r e s i s t change.” [65] W e c a n n o t s o l v e p r o b l e m s p la n t e d i n t h e p a s t . B u t w e c a n s o l v e p r o b l e m s t o c o m e ( i n t h e f u tu r e ) . E r g o , f o r m e r U . S . p r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t ma k e s a g r e a t a p p e a l.
  • 240. 240 Theodore Roosevelt: “All the resources we need are in the mind.” [ 7] A t a k e r eg a r d i n g t i m e p r o g r e s s i o n a n d r e t r o g r e s s i o n , S i r James Jeans establishes: Sir James Jeans — English Astronomer, physicist, and mathematician — (1877 — 1946) : “Taking a very gloomy view of t h e f u t u r e o f t h e h u m a n r ac e , l e t u s s u p p o s e t h a t i t c a n o n l y e x p ec t t o s u r v i v e f o r t w o t h ou s a n d m i l li o n y e a r s l o n g er , a p er i o d ab o u t e q u a l t o t h e p a s t a g e o f t h e e a r t h . T h e n , r e g a r d e d a s a b e i n g d e s t i n ed t o l i v e f or t h r e e s c or e - y e a r s a n d t h e n h u m a n i t y , a l t h o u g h i t h a s b e en b o r n i n a h o u s e s e v e n t y y e a r s o l d , i s i t s e l f three days old.” [17] It is indispensable to create whatever future you conceive by and for yourself. Is there a better tool than your most cultivated and p r e pa r e d m i n d t h i n k i n g in u n t h i n k a b l e s ? P l e a s e q u i t n o w t h a t foolish intuitiveness à la (the pre-“Cro-Magnon”) Savannah thinking, since this is a different temporal locus for certain. See Emerson’s take: R a l p h W a l d o E m e r s o n w r i t e s : “ M an h o p e s ; G e n i u s c r e a t e s . ” [ 8 ]
  • 241. 241 In order to work for the matters that make us hope, we must bluntly face the matters that besiege our own existence, the ones e l i c i t e d b y u s a n d t h e o n e s e l ic i t e d b y t h e p e o p l e t h a t we d o n ’ t even like. Dr. Knowles, a connoted American and greatly regarded i n t o a d u l t e du c a t i o n , h a s a l u c i d p o s i t i o n t h a t c a n s e r v e u s a s a starting point. Following: Dr. Malcolm Knowles PhD addresses ignoramuses (also known as s i m p l e t o n ) o f s u p i n e i g n o r a n c e : “ T h e g r e at e s t d a n g e r f o r t h e s u r v i v a l o f t h e p r e s e n t c i vi l i z a t i o n i s n e i t h e r a t o m i c w ar , n o r en v i r o n m en t a l pollution, nor the e x p l o i t a t i on of n at u r a l r e s o u r c e s , a n d n o r p r e s e n t c r i s e s . T h e u n d er l y i n g c au s e t o a l l o f t h e a b o v e i s t h e ac c e l er a t i on o f m a n ’ s o b s o l e s c en c e … T h e o n l y h o p e s e e m s t o b e an e l e c t r o s h o c k pr o g r a m t o r e - i n s t i l l t o t h e p r e s e n t ad u l t s t h e c o m p e t en c i e s r e q u i r ed t o f u n c t i o n ad e q u at e l y u n d e r a m od e o f p e r p e t u a l c h an g e . T h i s i s a pr o f o u n d n e ed — t h e i m m e a s u r a b l e c h a l l e n g e — t h a t i s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e m od e r n s o c i e t y t o ad u l t e d u c at i o n . ” [ 1 1 2 ] The Disraeli’s wise take: Benjamin Disraeli — British Prime Minister — (1804 — 1881): “ C on s e r v a t i s m discards P r e sc r i pt i o n , shrinks from Principle, d i s a v o w s P r o g r e s s ; h a v i n g r e j ec t e d a l l r e s p ec t f or a n t i q u i t y , i t
  • 242. 242 o f f e r s n o r ed r e s s f o r t h e pr e s e n t , a n d m a k e s n o p r ep a r a t i on f o r the future.” [17] Former Federal Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor gave a brief interview in 2009. She is mobilized into telling people that c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g s t e r s m u s t b e t a u g h t b o t h ( a ) C iv i c s a n d ( b) History. C le a r l y , h a v i n g s e e n s o m u c h m i s t a k e n p e o p l e le d t o g r a v e imprisonment sentences, O’Connor indicates that many of the pe o p l e d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e b a s i c s a b o u t ( 1) l i v in g c iv i l l y i n s o c i e t y , ( 2) r e s p e c t i n g t h e m a n d a t e s o f t h e “ L a w O f T h e L a n d , ” a n d ( 3) u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h e r e s o c i e t y a n d , i n h e r c a s e , t h e U . S . c o m e s from (through systematic study of history) to comprehend where a re w e l i k e l y t o g o o r n o t . On education and to this end, Dr. Skinner made an important point. Dr. Burrhus Frederic Skinner PhD, “Education is what survives w h en w h a t h a s b e en l e a r n e d h a s b e e n f o r g o t t en . ” [ 9] Is there a path to prevailing?
  • 243. 243 R a l p h W a l d o E m e r s o n : “ T h a t wh i c h w e p er s i s t i n d oi n g b e c o m e s e a s i e r f o r u s t o d o; n o t t h at t h e n at u r e o f t h e t h i n g i t s e l f i s c h a n g ed , b u t t h at o u r p o w e r t o d o i s i n c r e a s e d . ” [ 1 5 6] F r o m m m a k e s a p o i n t t h a t s u p p l e m e n t s , t o s o m e e x te n t , Kn o w l e s ’ and Skinner’s point of view: Erich Fromm — American philosopher and physiologist — (1900 — 1 9 8 0 ) : “ I n t h e n i n et e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e pr o b l e m w a s t h at G od i s d e a d ; i n t h e t w en t i et h c en t u r y t h e p r ob l e m i s t h a t m a n i s d e a d . I n the n i n et e e n t h century inhumanity meant cruelty; in the t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y i t m e a n s s c h i z o i d s e l f - a li e n a t i o n . T h e d a n g e r o f t h e p a s t w a s t h a t m en b ec a m e s l a v e s . T h e d an g e r o f t h e fu t u r e i s t h a t m en m a y b ec o m e r o b ot s . ” [ 1 7 ] W h a t i s t h e i n n e r - w o r k i n g s o f t i m e a s p e r O r w e l l ? En s u i n g : George Orwell (1903 — 1950): “Who controls the future; who controls the present controls the past … If you want a picture of t h e f u t u r e , i m a g i n e a b o o t s t a m pi n g o n a h u m an f a c e — f o r e v e r . ” [17] Question: Is this is a mistake universally made by the great majority? Meaning:
  • 244. 244 Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797, an Irish statesman, author, orator, p o l i t i c a l t h e o r i s t , a n d p h i l o s o p h e r ) : “ Y o u c a n n e v e r pl a n t h e future by the past.” [17] What are we expecting? H o r a c e ( 6 5 — 8 B C ) : “ W h i l e w e ’ r e t a l k i n g, e n v i ou s t i m e i s f l e e i n g: s e i z e t h e d a y , b u t n o t r u st i n t h e fu t u r e … T h e y e a r a n d t h e h o u r w h i c h r ob u s o f t h e f a i r d a y w a r n u s n ot t o h op e f or t h i n g s t o l a s t for ever.” [17] How can we state the bond between the future and past: Eugene O’Neill (1888 — 1953): “The only living life is in the past a n d f u t u r e … t h e p r e s e n t i s a n i n t e r lu d e … s t r a n g e i n t e r lu d e i n w h i c h w e c a l l o n p a s t an d fu t u r e t o b e ar w i t n e s s w e a r e li v i n g . ” [17] Elliot further adds creativity to understanding time: T.S. Elliot — Thomas Stearns Elliot — (1888 — 1965): “ T i m e p r e s e n t an d t i m e p a s t
  • 245. 245 A r e b ot h p er h a p s p r e s e n t i n t i m e f u t u r e , A n d t i m e f u t u r e c o n t a i n ed i n t i m e p a s t . ” [ 1 7 ] W e s e e a h o s t o f m a n u f a c t u r e r s o f a l l t y pe s o f p r o d u c t s , i n c l u d i n g a u t o m a k e r s a n d t h e i r c a r s . I n g r e a t ma n y c a s e s a n d a s pe o p l e h a v e b e e n c on c e r n i n g a b o u t b e in g s o - c a l le d “ g l o b a l w i n n e r s ” in t h e i r respective industries, they were adding to their products more and more features. Features equate with “increased complexities.” T ha t i s , t h e y w e r e a d d i n g g r e a t c o m p l e x i t y w h i l e d e f y i n g t h a t t h e whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Evidently, you can add every thinkable and unthinkable “complexity” to your products, as long as you greatly upgrade the scrutinizing vista of the entirety of the systems and the dynamic i n t e ra c t i o n s a m o n g ( i ) h a r d w a r e ( a m p le s t m e a n i n g ) , ( i i) s o f t w a r e ( a m p l e s t m e a n i n g) , a n d ( i i i) h u m a n s t h e m s e l v e s ( b o t h t h e o n e s r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e m a n u f a c tu r e r s a s w e l l a s t h o s e b e i n g e n d u se r s ) . S i n c e y o u c a n n o t u se t h e s a m e kn o w l e d g e r e p o s i t o r y i n m a k in g t h e f e a tu r e s - a d d i n g - t o - y o u r - p r o d u c t s e f f o r t , y o u ’ d b e t t e r p a y a t t e n t i o n to Einstein’s wise words.
  • 246. 246 A l b e r t E i n s t e i n : “ T h e s i g n i fi c a n t pr o b l e m s w e f ac e c a n n o t b e s o l v e d a t t h e s a m e l e v e l o f t h i n k i n g w e w e r e a t w h en w e c r e a t ed them.” [153] I n t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y M i l t o n m a d e a p o i n t t h a t in m y o p i n i o n i s v a l i d t o d a y . I n a r gu i n g t o f re e t e c h n o l o g y , c a pa b l e o f g r e a t g o o d but also of great evil, John Milton (1644) expressed majestic confidence in our ability to prevail: “Lords and Commons of E n g l a n d , c o n s i d e r w h at N a t i o n i t i s w h e r e o f w e a r e , an d wh e r e o f y e a r e t h e g o v e r n o r s : a N a t i o n n o t s l o w an d d u l l , b u t o f q u i c k , i n g e n i o u s , a n d p i er c i n g s p i r i t , a c u t e t o i n v en t , s u b t l e a n d s i n e w y t o d i s c ou r s e , n o t b e n e a t h t h e r e a c h o f a n y p o i n t t h e h i gh e s t t h a t h u m a n c a p a c i t y c an s o a r t o . ” [ 5 2] T h i s h a s b e e n t h e p o i n t o f v ie w of an Englishman about England. N i c h o l a s v o n H o f f m a n — a n A me r i c a n ' s v i e w o n E n g l a n d e l i c i t e d t o other Americans and author of the book “A Devil’s Dictionary of Business” (2005), ISBN 1-56025-712-1 — indicated: “England ... t h e l a n d w h en c e A m e r i c a n b u s i n e s s s p r an g , a f a c t t h a t m a y c o m e a s n e w s t o A m er i c an s , wh o b e l i e v e d t h at e v e r y t h i n g g o o d a n d w o r t h w h i l e h a s i t s o r i g i n s i n t h e U n i t e d S t at e s . T h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f E n g l i s h b u si n e s s p r a c t i c e s g o b ac k t o l a t e - m e d i e v a l I t al y a n d s i x t e en t h - c e n t u r y H o l l an d , b u t t h e y h a d t a k e n o n d i s t i n c t i v e f o r m s o f t h e i r o w n b y t h e t i m e t h e L o n d o n s t oc k m a r k et o p e n ed i n
  • 247. 247 1 6 9 0 . T h en c e f o r t h , i f n ot e a r l i er , N o r t h A m e r i c a n b u s i n e s s c o p i ed the English, particularly as English businessmen put steam technology to work to foment the Industrial Revolution. Not only d i d E n g l a n d l e a d t h e w o r ld w i t h t h e i n v en t i on o f s u c h t r i f l e s a s t h e r a i l r o a d , b u t t h e gr e a t e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h - c en t u r y A m er i c a n ad v a n c e s i n c an a l a n d r a i lr o a d b u i l d i n g w e r e p a i d f o r b y E n g l i s h i n v e s t o r s . ” [ 6 2] Was Thomas Jefferson America’s first fu t u r i s t ? He proclaimed: Thomas Jefferson: “I prefer the stories of the future than history.” [11] Speaking of not c ha n g i n g the current state of affairs, Dr. K i s s i n g e r , e s pe c i a l l y a d d r e s s e d f o r pe o p l e h o w t o a p p r o a c h t h i s m a x i m : “ f i r s t , f o r e m o s t : n e v er d o n o t h a r m , ” ( m o s t l y t a k e n f r o m t h e L a t i n s e n t e n c e : “ P r i m u m n on n oc e r e ”) b y s t a t i n g : D r . H e n r y K i s s i n g e r a d d r e s s e s : “ A n i gn o r e d i s s u e i s a n i n v i t a t i on t o a p r ob l e m . ” [ 1 2 ]
  • 248. 248 Former U.K. Prime Minister C h u rc h i l l is incontrovertibly c o n s i d e r e d b y m a n y o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t p o l i t i c a l i n t e l le c t s . H e h a d a great position on the future, stating: S i r W i n s t o n C h u rc h i l l : “ T h e e m p i r e s o f t h e f u t u r e a r e t h e e m pi r e s of the mind.” [13] There a re many f a l la c i e s and i l l - c o n c e iv e d assumptions and o u t d a t e d c o n v e n t i o n s ─ p lu s s o c i a l l y - e n g i n e e r e d a n d o t h e r w i s e m i s c o n c e p t i o n s ─ t h a t e v e n s m a r t pe o p l e h o l d d e a r l y w i t h o u t subjecting said fallacies and assumptions to great testing to a t t e m p t t o d i s p r o v e t h e m t o ga i n f u r t h e r i n s i g h t a n d m e n t a l a c u i t y of what holds true and what doesn’t. Whose cherished beliefs are folly? A n t o n i o M a c h a d o : “ T h e e y e i s n o t a n e y e b ec a u s e y o u s e e i t . T h e e y e i s an e y e b ec a u s e i t s e e s y o u . ” [ 1 4] After the insight by Machado, there is additional thoughtfulness along these lines:
  • 249. 249 The Panchatantra (body of Eastern philosophical kn o w l e d g e ) <<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchatantra>>: “ K n o w l ed g e is the true organ of sight, not the eyes.” [15] S e e i n g t hr o u g h t h e e y e s o f a p p l i e d s c i e n c e ( a n d a c t i o n a b l e o m n i s c i e n c e ) i s , i n m y v i e w , t h e o pt i m u m m o d e a n d h e r e lies further food for thought: B e r n a r d d ' E s p a g n a t : “ E v e n i f t h e U n i v e r s e i s a li t t l e m y o p i c i s t r u e t h at , m o r e t h an o t h er s , M E N O F S C I E N C E A R E I T S E Y E S . ” [16] H o w d o y o u o p e r a t e t h e s en s o rs o f t h e s i g h t ? Mark Twain: “You cannot depend on your eyes when your i m a g i n a t i on i s ou t o f f oc u s . ” [ 1 7 2 ] D ru c k e r w a s b l a m e d o f t e n o f s e l f - p r a i s i n g h i m s e l f a b o u t h i s c a p a b i l i t y o f f o r e t e l l i n g t h e f u t u r e . T h i s i s h i s t a ke o n i t : P e t e r D r u c k e r : “ T h i n g s t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y h a p p en e d b u t w h o s e c o n s e q u en c e s h a v e n ot b e e n r e a l i z e d [ b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e n o t i m a g i n e d , c o n s i d e r ed , s c r u t i n i z e d o r en v i s i o n e d b y d i s c i pl i n ed
  • 250. 250 f o r e s i gh t a n d f a r - s i g h t e x t en d i n g a n d e x p a n d i n g b o t h s i d e s o f t h e h u m a n b r a i n ] … D o n ’ t c o n fu s e m o v e m e n t w i t h pr o g r e s s . ” [ 1 7 ] I n a 2 0 0 9 i n t e r v i e w t o C h a r l i e R o s e S h o w , N o b e l la u r e a t e D r . J a m e s D . W a t s o n , P h D : “S c i en c e g i v e s s o c i e t y a g r e at s e n s e o f decisive freedom.” [18] Reinforcing the motion by Dr. Watson, Edmund Burke (1729 — 1 7 9 7 ) a r g u e s “ E d u c a t i o n i s t h e c h e a p d e f e n s e o f n a t i on s . ” [ 1 5 2 ] There has never been a greater importance to the most sophisticated education, e s p e c ia l l y to s c ie n c e , math, and engineering (and most of the times, the three of them simultaneously). The ensuing quotation accordingly goes: A r t h u r C . C la r k e : “ W e h a v e t o ab a n d on t h e i d e a t h at s c h o o l i n g i s s o m e t h i n g r e s t r i c t ed t o y o u t h . H o w c a n i t b e , i n a w o r l d w h e r e h a l f t h e t h i n g s a m a n k n o w s at 2 0 a r e n o l o n g er t r u e at 4 0 — an d h a l f o f t h e t h i n g s h e k n o w s at 4 0 h ad n ’ t b e e n d i sc o v e r e d w h e n h e w a s 2 0 ? ” [ 1 9] Regardless of how difficult, every responsible adult must assume t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f t h e p r e s e n t r e a l i t i e s . T he n , s / h e c a n e s t a b l i s h a
  • 251. 251 p la n o f a c t i o n t o w o r k t h r o u g h t h o s e r e a l i t i e s t o o v e r c o m e t h o s e realities. Khan offers important insight now. O t t o H e r m a n K h a n : “ C l e ar l y , t h e f i r s t t a s k i s t o g a i n a c c e pt a n c e of a m or e reasonable view of the fu t u r e , one that opens p o s s i b i l i t i e s r a t h e r t h a n f or e c l o s e s t h e m. ” [ 2 0] Time and action are invaluable r es o u r c e s . V er i f y the en s u i n g q u o t a t i o n : G e n e r a l F r a n c i s c o d e M i r a n d a : “T i m e i s t h e c o n t e xt b y m e an s o f w h i c h a c t i o n i s d e l i v er e d . ” [ 2 1 ] Unthinkable thinking will increasingly prove itself the most sensible decision. The greatest in-commonality to the commonsensical commons. What is lying ahead? O s c a r W i l d e : “ T o e x p ec t t h e u n e x p ec t e d s h o w s a t h o r ou g h l y m o d er n i n t e l l e c t . ” To be capitalistic in general requires having a good “relationship” with machines and even increasingly sophisticated automation. By
  • 252. 252 e v e r y a c c o u n t , M r s . Ka t h a r i n e H e p bu r n i s a g r e a t d e m o c r a t i c a n d c i v i l i z e d p e r s o n a n d n e v e r a p r o m i n e n t a c t iv i s t o f a n y t h i n g e l s e but the center, made a wonderful claim. As follows: M r s . K a t h a r i n e He p b u r n : “ N a t u r e … i s w h at w e a r e pu t i n t h i s w o r l d t o r i s e ab o v e . ” [ 5 2] Daring circumstances are for the tough-minded, resilient, r es o l v e d , a s w e l l a s f o r t h o s e w h o c o m b i n e b o l d n es s w i t h prudence. E l l a W h e e le r W i lc o x : “ T h er e i s n o c h a n c e , n o d e s t i n y , n o f a t e t h at can circumvent, hinder or c on t r o l the firm resolve of a d e t er m i n ed s o u l . ” H o w d o f r e e d o m , s e c u r i t y , s a f e t y , r e l ia b i l i t y , r e a s o n c oa l e s c e a n d intertwine? S i r K a r l P o p p e r : “ W e mu s t p l an f o r fr e e d o m , an d n o t on l y f o r s e c u r i t y [ a n d s a f e t y a n d r e l i a b i l i t y ] , i f f o r n o o t h er r e a s o n t h a n t h a t o n l y [ e x c e ed i n g l y ed u c a t e d ] f r e e d o m c an m a k e s e c u r i t y s e c u r e [ a n d s a f e t y s a f e a n d r e l i ab i li t y r e li a b l e] . ” [ 5 1]
  • 253. 253 I f o n e d o e s n o t a b o u t a s u b j e c t m a t t e r , W h a t s h ou l d h e o r her do? A n A i r F o r c e C o l o n e l w h o r e p e a t e d i t f re q u e n t l y . . . “ I t ' s b e t t e r t o r e m a i n s i l e n t a n d b e t h o u g h t a f o o l t h at o p en y o u r m o u t h a n d r e m o v e an y d o u b t . ” Before challenging situations, don’t rule it out or oversimplify it without first trying to research those situations and begin asking b o t h s i l l y a n d e x u b e r a n t q u e s t i o n s la v i s h l y . I n s e c o n d - g u es s i n g r es p o n s i b l y t h e f u t u r e , n ot t o f o r e t e l l b u t t o m a k e m e n t a l o pt i o n s f o r o m n i - m o d e p r e p a r e d n e s s t o avoid being s t r a t eg i c a l l y surprised, I recommend the following: A la n T u r i n g ( 1 9 5 0 ) : “ W e c a n on l y s e e a s h o r t d i s t an c e a h e ad , b u t w e c a n s e e p l en t y t h e r e t h a t n e ed s t o b e d on e . ” Many were complaining about the uniqueness of the ideas and reflections by some people with profound analytic abilities. Those complains were aired to a colonel who listened up and kept silence. UNTIL THE U.S. AIR FORCE COLONEL ANSWERED BACK AND W H O R E P E A T E D I T F R E Q U E N T L Y : “I t ' s b e t t e r t o r e m a i n s i l e n t
  • 254. 254 a n d b e t h ou g h t a f o o l t h a t o p e n y o u r m o u t h a n d r e m o v e a n y doubt.” CHAPTER 3 T H E F U T U R E A N D T H E T E C H N O L O G I C A L S IN G U L A R I T Y AS PER RAY KURZWEIL, PH.D. From Boston and dated June 02, 2010 I received an e-mail with an invitation to a documentary film on the future, the technological singularity, to be developed by Dr. Ray Kurzweil, PhD. I n v e n t o r R a y K u r z w e i l i s o n e o f t h e w o r l d ’ s l e a d i n g f u tu r i s t s , w i t h a 2 0 y e a r t r a c k r e c o r d o f a c c u ra t e p r e d i c t i o n s . Ca l l e d t h e “ r e s t l e s s genius” by The Wall Street Journal and “the ultimate thinking machine” by Forbes magazine, Kurzweil was selected as one of the top entrepreneurs by Inc. magazine, which described him as the “rightful heir to Thomas Edison.” I n v e n t o r o f t h e f i r s t C C D f la t b e d s c a n n e r a n d m a n y o t h e r f i r s t s , Ku r z w e i l i s a n i n d u c t e e i n t h e N a t i o n a l I n v e n t o r s H a l l o f F a m e a n d recipient of the National Medal of Technology, the Lemelson-MIT Prize (the world’s largest for innovation), and 19 honorary d o c t o r a t e s a n d a wa r d s f r o m t h r e e U . S . p r e s i d e n t s .
  • 255. 255 In the message contained in that e-mail it is indicated: Beginning of citation as per the invitation via e-mail on “The Singularity is Near” film. “ I n T h e S i n gu l a r i t y I s N e a r a n d C h ai r m a n o f t h e S i n g u l a r i t y U n i v e r s i t y ( s u p p or t e d b y N A S A a n d G o o g l e a n d o p e r a t ed o n N A S A A m e s R e s e a r c h C a m p u s ) pr e d i c t s t h at wi t h t h e e v e r - ac c e l er a t i n g r at e o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l c h an g e , h u m an i t y i s f a s t a p pr o a c h i n g an er a i n w h i c h o u r i n t e l l i g en c e wi l l b e c o m e t r i l li o n s o f t i m e s m o r e p o w e r f u l an d i n c r e a s i n g l y m e r g ed w i t h c o m pu t er s . T h i s w i l l b e t h e d a wn i n g o f a n e w c i v i li z a t i o n , e n ab l i n g u s t o t r a n sc e n d o u r biological l i m i t a t i on s . In Kurzweil’s post-biological w or l d , b o u n d a r i e s b l u r b e t w e e n h u m a n a n d m ac h i n e , r e a l a n d v i r t u a l . Hu m a n a g i n g a n d i l l n e s s a r e r e v er s e d , w o r l d h u n g er an d p o v e r t y are solved, and we cure death. He maintains a radically o p t i m i s t i c v i e w o f t h e f u t u r e c o u r s e o f h u m an d e v e l o p m e n t w h i l e ac k n o w l e d gi n g p r o f o u n d n e w d a n g e r s . ” “ A c c or d i n g t o B i l l G at e s , ‘ K u r z w e i l i s t h e b e s t p er s o n I k n o w a t p r e d i c t i n g t h e f u t u r e , ’ . . . “ Ku r z w e i l en v i s i o n s a f u t u r e i n w h i c h i n f o r m a t i o n t ec h n o l o g i e s h a v e a d v a n c e d s o f ar an d f a s t t h a t t h e y en a b l e humanity to t r a n sc e n d its biological l i m i t a t i on s — transforming our lives in ways we can’t yet imagine.”
  • 256. 256 “ Ku r z w e i l , t h r o u g h h i s e x t en s i v e w or k s ( i n c lu d i n g i n h i s t h e f e a t u r e - l en g t h d oc u m e n t a r y film), examines the social and p h i l o s o p h i c a l i m p l i c a t i on s o f t h e s e pr o f o u n d c h a n g e s a n d t h e p ot e n t i a l t h r e a t s t h e y p o s e t o h u m a n c i v i l i z at i o n i n d i a l o g u e s with big thinkers, i n c lu d i n g former White House c ou n t er - t e r r or i s m c h i e f R i c h a r d A . C l a r k e ; t e c h n o l o g i s t s B i l l J o y , M i t c h K a p o r , M ar v i n M i n s k y , E r i c D r e x l er , S h er r y T u r k l e a n d C y n t h i a B r e a z e a l ; F u t u r e S h o c k au t h o r A l v i n T o f f l e r ; c i v i l l i b e r t i e s l a w y e r A l an Dershowitz; venture capitalist Vinod Khosla an d en v i r o n m en t a l i s t B i l l M c Ki b b e n . ” Final citation of as per the invitation via e-mail on “The on Singularity is Near” film. CHAPTER 3 W H A T I S H A P P EN I N G N O W ? H O W M AN Y “ N O W S ” A R E THERE? ARE THOSE “NOWS” STILL RELEVANT? S w i f t a n d s w i r l i n g c h a n g e , pe r i l , c o m p l e x i t y , a n d n e w n e s s d o n o t f u n c t i o n a l o n e . T he y a r e d e e p l y i n t e r - m e s h e d , i n t e ra c t i v e , a n d transforming, as well as transformational. Using the genetic and b i o l o g i c a l pa r l a n c e , y o u ’ d b e t t e r b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s a m u l t i - f o l d e p o c h , e v e r m o r e u n f o l d i n g , in w h i c h m u ta t i o n s a n d t r a n s m u t a t i o n s
  • 257. 257 a re t a k i n g p l a c e a c r o s s t h e b o a r d , n o t j u s t in t h e c h e m i s t ’ s la b o r a t o r y . W h e n s p e a k i n g a b o u t “ F U T U R E ” a s t h e u n d e r s i g n e d i s s p e a k in g a b o u t c h a n g e , t h e r e i s i n c lu d e d p o s i t i v e c ha n g e a n d n e g a t i v e c ha n g e . H o w e v e r , t h e e m p h a s i s i s t o u n de r p i n t h e u p s i d e c h a n g e s a n d t o c r i p p l e t h e d o w n s i d e c ha n g e s . F r o m 1 9 9 9 t o 2 0 0 6 , w e c a n c i t e s e v e r a l p o i n t s o f i n f l e c t i o n s [ 1 3 5] i n t h e d y n a m i c s o f c h a n g e d c ha n g e s : (1) The ‘Millennium Bug’ ( 2 ) T e r r o r i s t at t a c k s i n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s ( 1 1 S e pt e m b er 2 0 0 1 ) , i n M ad r i d ( M a r c h 2 0 0 4) , i n L o n d on ( 7 J u l y 2 0 0 5) a n d i n M u mb a i ( Ju l y 2 0 0 6 ) ( 3) T h e B u n c e f i e l d i n d u s t r i a l d i s a s t er ( D e c e mb e r 2 0 0 5) (4) Hu r r i c an e s Katrina and Rita during the 2005 Atlantic Hu r r i c an e S e a s o n ( 5 ) T h e wi d e - a r e a E a s t C o s t U . S . , L o n d o n a n d E u r o p e a n p o w e r ou t a g e s i n 2 0 0 3 ( 6) T h e S A R S c o m mu n i c a b l e d i s e a s e o u t b r e a k i n 2 0 0 3 You can open up new doors for yourself, see new options, minimize significant mistakes, and maximize potential understandings. In
  • 258. 258 o r d e r f o r y o u t o a c t d e c i s i v e l y s u c c e s s f u l , y o u ’ d b e t t e r h a v e a lu c i d comprehension of said u n de r s t a n d i n g for Life. A lucid comprehension will come to you by the greatest — tough and subtle — omni-mode and through the most insidious application of the scientific method, especially through exact sciences aiming solely to the state-of-the-art generation. B e c a u s e o f t h e f o rc e s e x e r t e d b y t h e F U T U R E u p o n t h e P R E S E N T , this Era-streams eon rises ambiguity, ambivalence, dichotomy, uncertainty, complexity, c on f l i c t , bewilderment and ye t unprecedented possibilities. I t’ s g r e a t l y c o n v e n i e n t r e c a l l i n g t h e lu m i n e s c e n t t h o u g h t b y t h e p r o m i n e n t G e r m a n p h i l o s o p h e r , F r i e d r i c h W i l h e l m N i e t z s c h e : “I t ’ s ou r f u t u r e t h a t l a y s d o wn t h e l a w o f o u r t od a y . ” [ 1 1 0 ] I t’ s a d v a n t a g e o u s t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t a p r o m i n e n t 1 2 0 - ye a r - o l d c o r p o r a t i o n s u c h a s G E i s c on s i d e r i n g s i n c e S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 1 . T h i s quote is attributed to GE’s current CEO, Jeff Immelt: “I have to l e a d f o r t o m o r r o w ’ s w o r l d . ” W h a t a b o u t y o u ? W i l l y o u le a d f o r yesterday's world? I t i s f o r l e a d e r s t o f a l l i n t o t h e t r a p o f t h i n k i n g t h a t p la n n i n g a h e a d a n d b u i l d i n g f o r t h e F UT U R E i s a n in c r e d i b l e lu x u r y o f
  • 259. 259 inaccuracy. IT IS NOT. IT IS AN AB S O L U T E AND MOST INDISPENSABLE NECESSITY FOR LIFE. But anyone who underestimates the revolutionary character of t o d a y ’ s c ha n g e s i s l i v i n g a t o o - u n c o n t r o l l e d a n i l l u s i o n . Z e n B u d d h i s t s w i l l o f f e r y o u u n p r e c e d e n t e d l e c tu r e s o n r e a l i t y being the greatest mental “fabrication” by the hominid's mind. The world, that of physical “existence” and manufactured by the mind, is being transformed dramatically and irrevocably, second by second all of the time. Juxtapositions of many knowledge dominions will bring about the g r e a t e s t s c i e n t i f i c c o n v e r g e n c e e v e r i n t h e ye a r s a h e a d . S o m e pe o p l e l i k e J a m e s C a n t o n s u g g e s t t h e s e f o r c e s b e c o m i n g a n d r e n d e r i n g “ w e i r d s c i e n c e ” in e v e r y s p h e r e i n o u r l iv e s . [ 2 2] W i t h e a c h p a s s i n g d a y , c h a n g e qu i c k e n s e v e r y d a y a t a f a s t e r - a n d - faster, nonlinear, discontinuous and counter-intuitive rate. In the mean time, Evelyn Lindner reminds us of the following: “ P e s s i m i s m i s a l u x u r y o f g o o d t i m e s … I n d i f f i c u lt t i m e s , p e s s i m i s m i s a s e l f - f u l f i l l i n g , s e l f - i n f li c t ed d e a t h s en t e n c e . ”
  • 260. 260 T i c h y m a d e a r e l e v a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o u n d er s t a n d i n g t h e n at u r e o f s w i r l i n g c h a n g e s . I q u o t e s o m e o f h i s e x c e r p t s : “ S p e e d a n d c o n s t an t m o t i o n a r e t h e h a l l m a r k c h ar a c t e r i s t i c s o f li f e i n t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y . T h e d r i v i n g / e n ab l i n g f o r c e behind them is the technology that allows almost instant access to i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d wi t h e a c h ad v a n c e i n t e c h n o l o g y t h e c o n c e p t o f ‘fast’ is only going to get faster.” And Tichy added: “ T h i s a c c e s s c o m e s n o t o n l y i n t h e f o r m o f t h e ab i l i t y t o m o v e d at a a r ou n d t h e w o r l d i n n an o s e c o n d ( on e b i ll i o n t h , 1 0 — 9 , o f a s e c on d ) , b u t a l s o i n t h e a b i l i t y t o s i f t t h r o u g h a n d m a n i pu l a t e i t . P a t t er n s a n d t r e n d s t h a t w e r e i m p o s s i b l e t o s e e i n t h e d a y s w h en i n f o r m a t i o n [ b a s e d on t h r ou g h pu t - e d n u m e r i c a l a n d n ar r a t i v e d a t a ] w a s h ou s e d i n m a i n f r a m e c o m p u t e r s t h at r e q u i r ed I T p r o f e s s i o n a l s t o a c c e s s , ar e n o w r e a d i l y v i s i b l e t o a n y o n e w i t h a P C a n d a h o o k u p w h o c a r e s t o a p pl y a f e w s c r e en s . ” Subsequently, he continues: “ M or e o v e r , a s t ec h n o l o g y s h r i n k s t h e c y c l e b et w e e n a n a c t i o n , a r e a c t i o n a n d a r e - r e ac t i on , i t b e c o m e s p o s s i b l e f o r p e o p l e w h o
  • 261. 261 m i gh t o t h e r w i s e n e v e r b e i n d i r ec t c o n t ac t t o e n g a g e i n a n e a r l y c o n s t a n t f l o w o f d i a l o g u e . T h e r e s u lt i s n ot o n l y t h a t t e c h n i c i a n s i n B a n g a l o r e, I n d i a , a n d W a u k e s h a , W i s c o n s i n , c a n s e a m l e s s l y w o r k o n t h e s a m e p r o j ec t , p a s s i n g i t o f f a s t h e d a y en d s i n o n e h e mi s p h e r e a n d b e g i n s i n t h e o t h er , b u t a l s o t h a t a n e w l y h i r ed c o n s u l t a n t a t E D S c a n h a v e a m e an i n g fu l d i a l o g u e v i a v i d e o s a n d e - m a i l s w i t h C E O D i c k B r o w n ab o u t w h a t h e s e e s i n h i s t er r i t o r y . ” And Tichy observes: “ M e an w h i l e , m a r k e t s f or g o o d s a n d s e r v i c e s a n d t h e c ap i t a l m a r k et s c h an g e d i r ec t i on s w i t h a s t o u n d i n g s p e e d . C on s u m e r t r e n d s [ b ec a u s e o f t h e m u lt i t u d e o f d r i v i n g f o r c e s t h a t p r o p e l s s a i d f or c e s ] a r e i n a s t a t e o f c o n st a n t f lu x a s a f l o o d o f n e w p r o d u c t s [ an d s e r v i c e s] a p p e ar s e v e r y d a y t o s u p p l a n t o ld e r o n e s t h a t o f t e n h a v e b e e n ar o u n d o n l y a f e w m o n t h s t h e m s e l v e s . ” And he carries on: “ M ar k e t e x p a n s i o n s m o r p h i n t o c o n t r ac t i on s s e e m i n g l y o v e r n i g h t . I t i sn ’ t t h a t t h e c yc l e s a r e g et t i n g c l o s e r t o g e t h er . T h e ec o n o m i c e x p a n s i on o f t h e 1 9 9 0 s w a s o n e o f t h e l on g e s t i n U . S . h i s t o r y . R a t h er , i t i s t h e m o m e n t u m w h en t h e y t u r n t h a t h a s ac c e l er a t e d . O n M a r c h 1 3 , 2 0 0 0 , t h e N A S D A Q c o m p o s i t e i n d e x p e a k at 5 1 3 2 . B y
  • 262. 262 A p r i l 1 4 , i t s l u m p e d i n t o 3 2 6 5 , a l o s s o f n e a r l y 4 0 % i n o n e m on t h . I n s u c h a v o l a t i l e e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e ab i l i t y t o g r o w , s h r i n k a n d r e d e p l o y a s s e t s q u i c k l y a n d i n t e ll i g e n t l y i s a c r i t i c a l c o m p e t en c e for survival.” Incidentally: T h e S oc i e t y o f K n o w l e d g e ( t h a t o f t h e r u l i n g I n t e l l e c t u a l C a p i t a l) i s a w o r l d w i t h a b s o l u t e l y n o s p a c e a t a l l f o r p e r s o n a l ( i n d i v i d u a l) or collective (a) under-developing status and (b) developing quality stemming from the in-operation frame of reference. Gargantuan competence, forever updated and upgraded, will be more indispensable than water and oxygen. And Tichy asserts: “ W h a t h a s h ap p e n ed s o f a r i s j u s t a pr e v i e w . W e h a v e o n l y s c r a t c h e d t h e su r f a c e i n u s i n g t h e c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e c u r r e n t t e c h n o l o g y , n ot t o m en t i o n t h e n e w t ec h n o l o g i e s a n d c a p a b i l i t i e s t h a t ar e c o m i n g o n st r e a m e v e r y d a y . ” Tichy points out as well:
  • 263. 263 “ T h e e a r l i e s t u s e s o f m o s t n e w t ec h n o l o g i e s ar e a t m a k i n g o l d p r o c e s s e s w o r k b et t er . O n c e c o m pu t er s c a m e o u t o f t h e s c i e n c e l ab s , t h ei r first mainstream uses were for such things as au t o m a t i n g accounting and inventory c on t r o l s . These a p p l i c a t i o n s w er e v a l u a b l e i n t h a t t h e y g o t t h e b i l l s o u t f a s t e r a n d l e t a c o m p a n y m a k e b e t t er p u r c h a s i n g a n d s c h ed u li n g d e c i s i o n s . B u t o n c e y o u c on s i d er t h e a c t i v i t i e s r eq u i r e d f o r en t r y a n d r e t r i e v a l , s o m e w e r e n ’ t m u c h m o r e e f f ec t i v e i n t e r m s o f c o s t o r t i m e c o n su m p t i on t h an d oi n g t h i n g s t h e o ld w a y . ” In u n d er s t a n d i n g scales and accurate senses of proportions and depth, Tichy asserted in 2004: “ T h e G D P o f t h e d e v e l o p e d w o r l d — t h e U n i t e d S t at e s , E u r o p e an C o m m u n i t y a n d J a p a n wi t h a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n o f ab o u t 7 5 0 m i l l i o n — i s m or e t h a n $ 2 3 t r i l li o n . T h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g C h i n a w i t h 1 . 2 b i l l i o n p e o p l e a n d I n d i a w i t h ab o u t 1 . 2 b i l l i o n p e o p l e an d I n d i a w i t h ab o u t 1 b i l l i o n p e o p l e , li v e s o n l e s s t h a n $ 3 t r i l l i o n i n G D P . T a k e t h e w o r ld ’ s f i v e l a r g e s t c o m p a n i e s , G E , E x x o n / M o b i l , M i c r o s o f t , P f i z e r a n d W a l - M ar t — t h ei r m a r k et c a p i t a l i z a t i o n i s b i g g er t h an t h e G D P o f I n d i a . ” A s T i c h y c o n c lu d e d ma k i n g h i s c a se . [ 4 2 ]
  • 264. 264 CHAPTER 3 M E T H O D F I R S T , T E C H N O L O G Y S E CO N D ! In business and competing in the global markets, it is really important to count with optimum technology. Technology is going to be changing and changing almost without limits. However, there are many techniques and tools — as well as practices — to discipline the mind to make more judicious and e x p e d i e n t d e c i s i o n s a n d h e n c e e x e c u t i o n s . I n f a c t, I w i l l i n s i s t t h a t t e c h n o l o g i e s a r e a f u n c t i o n o f m i n d - e x p a n s i o n m e t h o d s . An e x h i b i t o n t h i s i s a v a i la b l e a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / b G d 8 k f CHAPTER 4 D E E P EN I N G OUR MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH IN AN D T O T H I S B O O K ! To further set the stage for this material, the textbook “Einstein in t h e B oa r d r o o m ” b y S u z a n n e S . Ha r r i s o n a n d P a t r i c k H . S u l l iv a n S r . may offer some lucid ideas on the “current” state of affairs when t h e y c la i m : “ Hu m a n s h a v e b e en ad d i n g t o t h ei r t o t a l k n o w l e d g e st e a d i l y o v e r the c en t u r i e s , and the amount of knowledge we create is
  • 265. 265 mu l t i p l y i n g a t a n i n c r ed i b l e r a t e . B e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e a m o u n t o f k n o w l e d g e i n t h e k n o w n w o r ld at t h e t i m e o f C h r i s t , s t u d i e s h a v e e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e f i r s t d ou b l i n g o f t h a t k n o w l ed g e t o o k p l ac e ab o u t 1 7 0 0 A . D . T h e s e c on d d ou b li n g o c c u r r e d a r ou n d t h e y e a r 1 9 0 0 . I t i s e s t i m a t e d t od a y t h a t t h e w o r ld ' s k n o w l e d g e b a s e wi l l d o u b l e a g a i n b y 2 0 1 0 a n d a g a i n a ft e r t h a t b y 2 0 1 3 . ” [ 3 7 ] In stating some clear fact of applied science progression, President John F. Kennedy’s speech on September 12, 1962 at Ra c e University: “Within these last 19 months at least 45 satellites have c i r c l ed t h e e a r t h . S o m e 4 0 o f t h e m w er e “ m ad e i n t h e Un i t ed S t a t e s o f A m er i c a ” a n d t h e y w e r e f a r m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t ed an d supplied far more knowledge to the people of the world than those o f t h e S o v i et U n i on …. T h e g r o w t h o f o u r sc i e n c e a n d ed u c a t i o n will be enriched by new k n o w l ed g e of our u n i v er s e and en v i r o n m en t , b y n e w t e c h n i q u e s o f l e ar n i n g a n d m a p p i n g a n d ob s e r v a t i o n , b y n e w t o o l s a n d c o m pu t e r s f or i n d u st r y , m ed i c i n e , t h e h o m e a s w e l l a s t h e s c h o o l . ” [ 8 0] I n a t r e a t i s e c o n c e r n i n g t h e “ P r i n c i p l e s o f Hu m a n K n o w l e d g e , ” G e o r g e B e r k e l e y ( 1 8 6 5 – 1 7 5 3 ) s u s t a i n s : “W e h a v e f i r s t r a i s e d a dust [ s c i e n c e, t ec h n o l o g y and progress] an d t h en complain [ b ec a u s e ou r m o s t d e t er m i n e d d ec i s i o n o f n o t t a k i n g o u r o w n
  • 266. 266 ed u c a t i on a n d e n c u l t u r a t i o n f u r t h er ] w e c a n n o t s e e [ u n d er s t a n d t h e w o r l d u p o n w h i c h w e d ar e t o s t an d u p o n ] . ” [ 1 3 0 ] T h e r e a r e m a n y s e r i o u s pu b l i c a t i o n s , f r o m 2 0 0 3 t o t h i s d a t e , s p e a k i n g o f t h e e n t i r e t y o f s c i e n t i f i c kn o w l e d g e d o u b l i n g e v e r y f i v e (5) years and sooner. How, then, can one undertake such a g a r g a n t u a n c ha l l e n g e , t h r o u g h t h e “ S o c i e t y o f K n o w l e d g e ” ( t h a t also embraces the “infotech economy”), unless it is through the s t e w a r d s h i p o f t h e m o s t r i g o r o u s a n d a d v a n c e d s c ie n t i f ic m e t h o d ? T h e A m e r i c a n H e r i t a g e D i c t i o n a r y ’ s I n t r od u c t i o n ( f ou r t h edition, 2000) by Joseph P. Pickett, Executive Director, l i t e r a l l y i n d i c a t e s , t o fu r t h e r i l l u s t r a t e t h e re a d e r , [ 5 4] : “This F ou r t h Edition of The A m er i c a n H er i t a g e Di c t i o n a r y c o m b i n e s t h e b e s t o f t r ad i t i o n a l m a k i n g w i t h k e y i n n o v a t i o n s t h a t a f f o r d n e w w a y s o f l o o k i n g a t ou r l an g u a g e … T h i s e d i t i on h a s n e a r l y 1 0 , 0 0 0 n e w w o r d s a n d s e n s e s t h a t r e fl e c t t h e r a p i d p a c e o f c h a n g e i n t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e t od a y . T ec h n o l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i on s i n c o m p u t i n g an d c o m m u n i c a t i on s a l o n g w i t h ad v a n c e s i n t h e sciences have been especially rich sources of development in the l e x i c o n ( f or e x a m p l e , b i t m a p , d o m a i n n a m e , a n d r a s t e r i n c o m p u t i n g ; d ar k m a t t er , p h o t o n i c s , a n d y o c t o s e c o n d i n s c i en c e) . M ed i c i n e and medical research continue to produce an
  • 267. 267 a s t o n i s h i n g ar r a y o f n e w t e r m s f o r c h e mi c a l s a n d s u b s t a n c e s ( e n d o s t a t i n , l e p t i n , t r a n s f a t t y ac i d ) , f or d i s or d er s an d i n f ec t i ou s a g e n t s ( A s p e r g e r ’ s s y n d r o m e , e r ec t i l e d y s f u n c t i o n , h an t a v i r u s ) , f o r t r e a t m en t ( c o c k t a i l , m o l e c u l a r k n i f e , x e n o t r a n s p l a n t ) , a n d f or a v a r i e t y o f c r e at i o n s a n d d i s c o v e r i e s ( d e s i g n e r g e n e, en t er i c nervous system, microsleep)…. In addition, continuing social c h a n g e i n p o s t i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t y h a s g i v e n r i s e t o e x pr e s s i o n s t h a t d e s c r i b e n e w b u s i n e s s p r a c t i c e s ( b u yb a c k , m i c r oc r e d i t , r e v e r s e m o r t g a g e ) , a c h a n gi n g w o r k p l ac e ( f a c e t i m e , j ob - s h a r e , m o m m y t r a c k ) , a n d e v o l v i n g p o l i t i c a l p o s i t i o n s a n d g o v e r n m en t a l p o l i c i e s ( f a m i l y l e a v e , t er m l i mi t , w or k f a r e ) . N e w s p o r t s t er m s h a v e a r i s e n ( c l a p s k a t e, f i v e h o l e, s k y b o a r d ) , a s h a v e w o r d s f o r n e w ed u c a t i on a l practices (charter school, d i st a n c e l e ar n i n g , h o m e s c h o o l ) . T h e n a m e s o f f o od s f r o m o t h er c u lt u r e s c o n t i n u e t o b e a d o p t e d ( b ab a g a n n ou j , g a r a m m a s a l a , q u e s a d i l l a) . A h o s t o f n e w c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t s h a s pr o d u c ed a h o s t o f n e w c o m p o u n d c o r d s ( a s s i s t e d l i v i n g , p o et r y s l a m , s h o c k j o c k ) . An d E n g l i s h s p e a k e r s c o n t i n u e t o b e a n e x u b er a n c e f o r c e i n c r e a t i v e c o i n a g e ( b l o v i a t e, n e wb i e , w a n n a b e) … . To e n su r e ac c u r a c y in the c o v e r a g e o f o u r r a p i d l y c h an g i n g v o c a b u l a r y , w e h a v e w o r k ed c l o s e l y w i t h d i s t i n g u i s h e d c on s u l t an t s i n a w i d e v a r i et y o f s p e c i a l i z e d f i e l d s , i n c l u d i n g a n t h r o p o l o g y , a s t r o n o m y , g en e t i c s , i m mu n o l o g y , p h i l o s o p h y , a n d p h y s i c s , t o n a m e b u t a f e w . W e h a v e a l s o g o n e t o g r e at l e n g t h s t o m a k e ou r b i o l o g i c a l a n d g e o g r a p h i c
  • 268. 268 en t r i e s a s t i m e l y a s p o s s i b l e . M a n y n e w b i o g r a ph i c a l e n t r i e s h a v e b e e n ad d ed , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e a r e a s o f s p o r t s , mu s i c , f i l m - m a k i n g , a n d l i t e r at u r e . T o t h e g e o g r a p h i c e n t r i e s w e h a v e a d d e d n e w c o u n t r y n a m e s , s u c h a s M y an m a r a n d t h e R e p u b l i c o f C o n g o , an d newly prominent places such as Kosovo….” Learning about the futures? V i r g i n i a P o s t r e l : “ …t h e f u t u r e i s a l i v e . L i k e t h e p r e s en t , t h e fu t u r e i s n ot a s i n g l e, u n i f o r m st a t e b u t a n o n g o i n g p r oc e s s t h at r e f l ec t s t h e p l en i t u d e o f h u m an l i f e. T h e r e i s i n f ac t n o s i n g l e f u t u r e; ‘ t h e ’ f u t u r e en c o m p a s s e s t h e m a n y m i c r o fu t u r e s o f i n d i vi d u a l s an d t h e i r a s s o c i a t i on s . I t i n c lu d e s a l l t h e t h i n g s w e l e a r n a b o u t ou r s e l v e s a n d t h e w o r l d , a l l t h e i n c r e m en t a l i m p r o v e m e n t s w e d i s c o v e r , a l l o u r n e w i d e a s , a n d a l l t h e n e w w a y s w e e x p r e s s an d r e c o m b i n e t h e m . A s a s y s t e m , t h e fu t u r e i s n a t u r a l , o u t o f a n y o n e ’ s c o n t r o l , t h ou g h i s d r i v e n b y t h e a r t i f i c i a l : b y i n d i vi d u a l a t t e m p t s … T h i s o p en - en d ed fu t u r e c an ’ t b e c on t a i n e d i n t h e v i s i o n o f a s i n g l e p e r s o n o r o r g a n i z a t i o n . An d … i t i s s o m e t h i n g w e c a n n e v e r b e c au g h t u p wi t h …. H O W W E F E E L AB O U T T H E E V O L V I N G F U T U R E T E L L S U S W H O W E A R E A S I ND I V I D U A L S A N D A S A C I V I L I Z A T I O N : D O W E S E A R C H F O R S T AS I S ─ A REGULATED, ENGINEERED WORLD? OR DO WE EMBRACE DYNAMISM─A WORLD OF CONSTANT CREATION, DISCOVERY,
  • 269. 269 A N D C O M P E T I T I O N ? D O W E V A L U E S T AB I L I T Y A N D C O N T R O L , OR EVOLUTION AND LEARNING? … OR DO WE SEE TECHNOLOGY AS AN EXPRESSION OF HUMAN CREATIVITY AND T H E F U T U R E A S I N V I T I N G ? D O W E T HI N K T H A T P R O G R E S S REQUIRES A CENTRAL BLUEPRINT, OR DO WE SEE IT AS A DECENTRALIZED, EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS? DO WE CONSIDER M I S T A K E S P E R M A N E N T DI S AS T E R S , O R T H E C O R R E C T A B L E B Y - PRODUCTS OF EXPERIMENTATION? DO WE CRAVE P R E D I C T A B I L I T Y, O R R E L I S H S U R P R I S E ? T H E T W O P O L E S , STASIS AND DYNAMISM, INCREASINGLY DEFINE OUR P O L I T I C A L , I NT E L L E C T U A L , A N D C U L T U R A L L A N D S C A P E . T H E C E N T R A L Q U E S T I O N O F O U R T I M E I S W H A T T O D O AB O U T T H E F U T U R E . A N D T H A T Q U E S T I O N C R E A T E S A D E E P DI V I D E . ” [ 1 7 0] I n s p e a k i n g a b o u t s c i e n c e p r og r e s s i o n , n e w b e n e f i t s a n d n e w h a z a r d s , h e r e i t i s a s u m m a t i o n b y t h e En g l i s h C r o wn ’ s top scientist, Sir Martin Rees. S i r M a r t i n R e e s , P h D : “ S c i en c e i s e m p h a t i c a l l y n ot , a s s o m e h a v e claimed, approaching its end; it is s u r gi n g ahead at an ac c e l er a t i n g r a t e. W e ar e s t i ll f l u m m o x e d a b o u t t h e b ed r oc k n at u r e o f p h y s i c a l r e a l i t y , a n d t h e c o m p l e xi t i e s o f li f e , t h e b r a i n , a n d t h e c o s m o s . N e w d i sc o v e r i e s , i l l u m i n a t i n g a l l t h e s e m y s t e r i e s , w i l l en g e n d e r b en i g n a p p l i c a t i on s ; b u t w i l l a l s o p o s e n e w et h i c a l
  • 270. 270 dilemmas and bring new hazards. How will we balance the mu l t i f ar i o u s p r o s p e c t i v e b e n e fi t s fr o m g e n e t i c s , r ob o t i c s , o r n an o t ec h n o l o g y a g a i n s t t h e r i s k ( a lb e i t s m a l l e r ) o f t r i g g e r i n g u t t e r d i s a s t e r ? …. S c i e n c e i s ad v a n c i n g f a s t e r t h an e v e r , an d on a b r o a d er front: bio-, c yb e r - an d n an o t e c h n o l o g y all offer e x h i l a r a t i n g p r o s p e c t s ; s o d o e s t h e e x p l o r a t i on o f s p a c e . B u t t h e r e i s a d a r k s i d e : n e w s c i en c e c an h a v e u n i n t e n d e d c on s e q u en c e s ; i t e m p o w e r s i n d i v i d u a l s t o p er p e t r a t e a c t s o f m e g a t e r r o r ; e v en i n n oc e n t er r o r s c ou l d be catastrophic. The ‘downside’ from t w e n t y - f i r st c en t u r y t ec h n o l o g y c ou l d be graver and more i n t r a c t a b l e t h a n t h e t h r e at o f n u c l e ar d e v a s t a t i o n t h a t w e h a v e f ac e d f o r d ec a d e s . A n d h u m a n - i n d u c ed p r e s s u r e s o n t h e g l o b a l en v i r o n m en t m a y e n g en d er h i g h er r i s k s t h a t t h e a g e - o l d h a z a r d s o f e ar t h q u a k e s , e r u p t i o n s , a n d a s t er o i d i m p a c t s … ” [ 1 2 0 ] Therefore, What should systematically be instituted then? Dr. Vernon Grose, Dsc (1987): “... especially for managing risk, is a l m o s t a n i n e v i t a b l e n e c e s s i t y i n t h e d a y s a h e ad . L i f e i s n o t li k e l y [ a t a l l ] t o g et l e s s c o m p l i c a t ed . ” [ 9 9] T h e P R E S E N T r e s o l u t e l y in s i s t s o n t r a s h i n g i t s e l f w i t h a n o v e r l o a d o f “ o b s o l e d g e ” ( o b s o l e t e k n o w l e d g e ) [ 2 3] . B u t t h e e r u d i t e , s h r e w d , pre-cog FUTURE — knowing the decisively better best — stays safe
  • 271. 271 a n d c e r t a i n t h a t « w h at w o r k e d b e s t w o n ’ t a n y m o r e » f o r t h e PRESENT besieged by mundane miseries, those miseries propelled by the unkindest humankind without a fail. THE FUTURE IS ALSO AND AB O V E ALL B ES I E G E D , B UT B ES I E G E D O F A N D B Y A N D T H R O U G H B R E A K T H R O U G H S I N P E R P E T U I T Y A N D P E R P E T U A L L Y I N F L UI D I T Y R A DI A N T L Y A N D IRRADIANTLY. If you must insist, you can study the melancholic PAST as a distorted prologue primer to the PRESENT. Nevertheless, not even t h e l o f t i e s t a c c u m u la t i o n o f a l l t h e s u b o p t i m a l P A S T S a d d e d t o t h e PRESENT are nothing bu t an in f i n i t e s i m a l , ineffectual, inconsequential, immaterial, and impious script to the FUTURE. PAST and PRESENT are a bunch of empty, hallow iotas. Said script, I’m not apologetic to state, since I did not birth this U n i v e r s e , w o n ’ t g e t y ou t o y o u r o w n F UT U R E ’ s U P S I D E S , b u t m i g h t ma k e y o u i n s t i t u t e a n e me r g e n c y l a n d i n g u p o n y o u r o w n e x i s t e n t i a l d i s r u p t i o n u n le s s y o u pa y g r e a t a t t e n t i o n a n d a c t u p o n it urgently and smartly. Got to get beyond cross-pollinated sophistication. Cannot make it by yourself? Can you please just ask for unconventional professional assistance?
  • 272. 272 I n t h e u l t i m a t e s c r u t i n y, y o u m u s t c o n c e i v e , d e s i g n , d e v e l o p , i m p l e m e n t , s u s t a i n , u p d a t e , a da p t , r e - a da p t , a n d r e - i n v e n t y o u a n d y o u r o w n F U T U R E S , F U T U R E b y FU T U R E f o r L i f e , a L i f e t h a t w i l l e qu a t e t o i m m o r t a l i t y . T a k e n f r o m t h e L a t i n t e r m a p o s t e r i o r i , I will never act aposterioristically. Taken from the Latin term a priori, I will invariably proceed aprioristically. U n l e s s , i n e x e r c i s i n g y o u r m o s t c o n s c ie n t i o u s f re e w i l l , y o u w i s h t o be enslaved by an arrogant robot that is: omniscient, as well as self-upgrading, self-enhancing, self-replicating, self-fixing, self- e n e r g i z e d , s e l f - r e n e w i n g , s e lf - r e in v e n t i n g , s e l f - a wa r e , s e l f - r u l i n g , s e l f - t r a n s p o r t i n g , s e l f - c o m m u t i n g ( by g r o u n d , a i r , w a t e r , o u t e r space, tele-transportation, etc.), and in possession of many other “selfs” that grant it super autonomy. T h o s e b e l i e v i n g t h a t t e l e - t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , m o r e p o p u l a r l y kn o w n a s teleporting, is Sci-Fi might wish to research on the breakthroughs by Los Alamos National Laboratories. Some years ago, as per Los A la m o s i t s e l f , t h e y m a d e i t p o s s i b l e a t t h e “ d i s c r e t e l e v e l . ” T h e P R E S E N T d o e s n o t r e s e m b l e t h e P A S T , n o r w i l l t h e F UT U R E ever resemble the PRESENT; up until now the PRESENT has been anecdotal, folkloric, and still impregnated with greater forces and yet more subtle ones than an ever-increasing synergy (i.e. mother
  • 273. 273 of all synergies) of all our known and unknown PASTS combined ( ov e r f ou r billion years), while the F UT U R E will over- g e o m e t r i c a l l y t r a n s - m u t a t e i n t o in f i n i t e l y s w i f t e r , a r r h y t h m i c , inconceivably, amorphously p e r e n n i a l l y - a c c e le r a t i n g (through diversely modulated or not speeds — speeds that stem from some n e w o r d e r o f r a m p a n t s p e e d i n g a n d a c c e le r a t i o n o f s a i d s p e e d i n g —), orderly-chaotic and yet more driven into vividly-immersed and pa l p a b l e r e a l i t i e s t h a n o u r c u r r e n t y e t o b s o l e t e P R E S E N T . W h y s e c o n d - g u e s s t h e F UT U R E w h e n y ou c a n r e a d , i n a dv a n c e , said FUTURE's hints NOW and exploit them grandiosely, to your a dv a n t a g e ? Annihilate the DOWNSIDES to hijack the UPSIDES, metaphorically and not so metaphorically speaking about leading, managing, and undertaking organizations with a profit end or otherwise. Please remember a golden rule: Regardless of your qualitative and quantitative growth in, say, leadership and success capturing as well as management, every growth will be hallowed and harmful if it is not first a growth of ethics and morality. The FUTURE at all times wishes to readily equip the present with n o v e l i n f o r m a t i o n . W h y ? B e c a u s e t h e F UT U R E c o n s i d e r s t h e P R E S E N T a f a i l e d s t a t e d in t h e r e a l m o f t i m e , a n d d o e s n o t d e s i r e
  • 274. 274 to get implicated with the downsides of a sub-optimal, bitter fellow w h o d e c l i n e s e v e r y h e l pf u l k n o w l e d g e o n “ e m o t i o n a l i n t e l l i g e n c e ” and “political intelligence”. Anyway, and by any rational measure, we are in a multi-eon- streaming epoch in which mind-toughness and mind resilience, within kindness and civility, are going to be far more important t h a n t h e s m i l e o f t h e b u s d r i v e r s p o k e n o f b y D a n ie l G o l d m a n . [ 2 9 ] What is an example of one instituting resiliency? Dr. Robert Collins, PhD. and his “Ten Commandments of Resilience.” It here ensues the literal citation: I . - T h ou S h a l t H a v e a W r i t t e n D i s a s t e r P l a n I I . - T h o u S h a l t D o C o s t B e n e f i t An a l y s i s I I I . - T h ou S h a l t B e F u l l y I n su r e d I V. - T h o u S h a l t S e ar c h O u t a n d R e p a i r V u ln e r ab l e S y s t e m s V.- Thou Shalt Have Redundant Systems VI.- Thou Shalt Be Mobile V I I . - T h ou S h a l t S e t an d F o ll o w P r i o r i t i e s V I I I . - T h o u S h a l t N o t D e p en d on O t h er s I X . - T h o u S h a l t K e e p L i n e s o f C o m m u n i c a t i on O p e n X . - T h ou S h a l t C a p i t a l i z e on O p p o r t u n i t i e s
  • 275. 275 E n d o f c i ta t i o n o f t h e “ T e n C o m m a n d m e n t s o f R e s i l i e n c e . ” [ 1 2 5 ] As the FUTURE gives the PRESENT a bad score and becomes j u d g m e n t a l o n i t , t h e P R E S E N T f l a g r a n t l y d e n ie s a n d r e j e c t s t h e c u r r e n t e x i s t e n c e o f t h e FU T U R E . S o m e o f t h e s i g n s e c h o e d b y t h e FU FUTURE into the PRESENT are ubiquitously here in encoded ways. As the FUTURE paraphrases Shakespeare’s sentence (fears take a wa y t h e g o o d w i t h w h i c h we c ou l d w i n ) a n d e x e c u t e s i t i n t h e practice, the PRESENT feels a great animosity against such a maxim and habit. The forthcoming FUTURE — already scattered among us — has a l o t t o o f f e r t o t h e P R E S E N T , n a m e l y a n i n v a lu a b l e o u t - o f - t h i s - world-and-time source of narrative and n u m e r ic a l data (unexplored repository knowledge waiting to being seized and administered by the PRESENT and its inhabitants). Can you think o f a n y o n e m o r e v i s i o n a r y t h a n t h e k i n g i n h i s c la s s , t h e F U T U R E itself? T h e P R E S E N T , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , i s s o m e h o w a n e c d o t a l ( su b o p t i m a l ) w h i l e t h e F U T U R E ru t h l e s s l y a n d r e l e n t l e s s l y a b i d e s b y e v e r - e me r g i n g s c i e n t i f i c t r u t h s . T he s e t r u t h s c on t a i n v a s t g o l d m i n e s
  • 276. 276 for c re a t i o n , recreation, and super-creation, as well as for devastation. The cultivated brains must root out the endless dangers to capture t h e b e n e f i t s , s o h u m a n k i n d p r e v a i l s o n E a r t h a n d mu c h m o r e beyond it if the Universe (and the embedded Nature of the latter), too, — and its own hyper-dynamics — warrants such a sovereign license. For the first time in history, we can work backward from our imagination rather than forward from our past. [28] In the midst of chaos, there is a learning lesson to assimilate. Sometimes the t a b l e i s s e r v e d f o r O V E R - L E A R N I N G if t h e p r e p a r e d m i n d i s pa y i n g h u g e a t t e n t i o n t o t h e n a n o - g r a n u l a r i t y o f d e t a i l s . To me uncharted territory is the most splendorous “terra incognita” battlefield, chiefly because of its sheer number of unknown knowns and unknown knowns. As well as immense crises, t h e r e t e r r i t o r i e s a n d i n c o g n i t o s o f f e r e d a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d l e a r n in g opportunity that I will never waste, my most thoughtful friends. T h e t e r m s i n g u la r i t y e n t e r e d t h e p o p u la r s c i e n c e c u l t u r e w i t h t h e 1993 presentation at NASA-sponsored conference of a seminal pa p e r b y S a n D i e g o S ta t e Un i v e r s i t y s t a t i s t i c i a n V e r n o r V i n g e . T h e
  • 277. 277 abstract of the famous essay is as dauntingly lucid today as it was more than a decade ago: Permalink: http://www.mindstalk.net/vinge/vinge-sing.htm P r o f e s s o r V i n g e i n d i c a t e d i t i n 1 9 9 3 : “W i t h i n t h i r t y y e a r s , w e w i l l h a v e t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l m e a n s t o c r e at e s u p e r h u m a n i n t e l l i g en c e . S h o r t l y a f t e r , t h e h u m an e r a wi l l b e e n d e d …I s s u c h p r o g r e s s a v o i d ab l e ? I f n o t t o b e a v o i d e d , c an e v e n t s b e g u i d e d s o t h a t w e m a y su r v i v e ? T h e s e q u e s t i o n s ar e i n v e s t i g a t ed . S o m e p o s s i b l e a n s w e r s [ a n d s o m e f u r t h er d an g e r s ] a r e p r e s e n t e d … ” I j u s t w o n d e r i f t h e F UT U R E i s c o n t i n u a l l y s t a l k i n g o n t h e PRESENT! Perhaps, it is so. One thing can be ascertained, because o f t h e P R E S E N T ’ s n o n - e r u d i t e n a tu r e , t h e F UT U R E ( t h e o v e r - ruling) is always filibustering the PRESENT (the enslaved). These days meaning: these seconds — the totality of all is in the m a k i n g p e r p e t u a l l y . T h a t t o b e i n t h e m a k in g m o d e — a t t h i s t i m e — i s r e l e n t l e s s l y t h o u g h t o f a n d t h o u g h t t h r o u g h wa y i n a dv a n c e . This is a technique to CURRENTLY get your brains over-in-sourced by zillion practiced futuristic scenarios (happily and readily adopted quite early on).
  • 278. 278 THE FUTURE WILL HIT THE PRESENT AND ITS RESPECTIVE GROUND RUNNING. All of that as it has been seen up to the present time. This is a hyper-accelerated Eons-streaming Age and ever- increasingly by an above and beyond an over-exponential “many orders of magnitude” factor. Said “over-exponential factor,” even when multiplied by many orders of magnitudes as in effect it is, the non-linear geometrical and discontinuous growth rate of it is by most people immeasurably underestimated and misunderstood. Besides its i n tu i t i o n i s o n l y f la g r a n t c o u n t e r - i n t u i t i o n . To me the PAST is more l i ke A l ic e ( A l ic e ' s Adventures in Wonderland). The PRESENT seems more like Mr. Hyde while the F U T U R E a p pe a r s t o b e m o r e l i ke t h e j o i n t c o n s p i r a c y b y D r . J e k y l l a n d D o r i a n G ra y . P e r h a p s , w e w i l l n e e d t h e c o m b i n e d e f f o r t b y Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie to decipher these outright e n i g m a s , n a m e l y t h o s e s t e m m i n g f r o m t h e e v e r - a wa i t e d - b u t - e v e r - i n t r u d i n g F U T U R E . T he P R E S E N T i s a l w a y s a d h o c .
  • 279. 279 W e a re r e p e a t e d l y l o n g i n g f o r t h e g o o d s i d e s o f t h e f u t u r e s impiously forgetting that those futures come along with great responsibilities and challenges. Progress is the future outcome of a multitude of cascades of “ c u r r e n t m o m e n t s ” f l o w i n g d i v e r g e n t l y . T he d i v e r g e n c e u n i t e s seamlessly but not under the ever-suboptimal comprehension “seized” via the “naked” human eye. The PRESENT ─ so-called ─ is a l wa y s precluding F UT U R E r e pe t i t i o n o f s a i d ' P R E S E N T ' i n o r d e r t o d i s p l a c e t h e i m p l i c a t e d continuum to other progressions and/or retrogressions. The PRESENT is introvert adhocracy as the F UT U R E is technocracy in perpetuity. The PRESENT is an illiterate adhocratic one while the FUTURE is the technocratic, “omni mode” savant. T h e P A S T i s h o l l o w a n d i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l f o s s i l s u n v e r i f ia b l e b y a n y “carbon testing” measurement. T o g i v e e n t r e p r e n e u r s a P O V q u i c k l y, m o s t b u s i n e s s p l a n s a re ( ha v e b e e n f o r t o o l o n g ) g r o t e s q u e l y i l l - c o n c e i v e d i n d e e d i n t h e m e a n t i m e , a s t h e y a re w r i t t e n - u p a n d r e c k o n e d w i t h t h e e y e s f ix e d i n p r e h i s t o r y . I F I T I S N O T A N A CT U A L S UB - S ET O F A M U C H
  • 280. 280 GREATER AND THOROUGH ADVANCED RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, THE FIRM WILL MEET GARGANTUAN CHALLENGES. Otherwise, there will be great opportunities! One end of the greatest Risk Management Effort (extraneous to insurance, co- i n s u ra n c e , r e - i n s u ra n c e , b o n d s , a n d t h o s e a r t i f ic e s “ m a r k e t e d ” b y beautifully institutionalized “social engineering,” termed by these God-sent incumbents: “marketing techniques”) is to entertaining the fiscally sound outcomes of a business, literally any business, c ha l l e n g e , o r t a s k . This FUTURE, that throws around its weight through every facet of the PRESENT overbearingly and mercilessly, might be 99.99% INEVITABLE. I n e v i t a b i l i t y , i n t h i s i n s t a n c e , e qu a t e s t o m e a n i n g t h a t i t w i l l b e a rogue dictator, over-ruling capriciously and solely acting upon its way and capricious taste. The unavoidable consequences of this FUTURE can be mitigated or at least somehow modulated. Evidently, this FUTURE’s UPSIDES can be, perhaps, seized and even a m p l i f ie d . To meet both requisites, there is one HUGE prerequisite before proceeding any further. The popular wisdom so populated of “one thing at a time”
  • 281. 281 is forbidden by the rulings of the incumbent FUTURES here referred to. T h i s i s n o t a c a l l i n g f o r t h e “ s n a i l - pa c e d ” mu l t i - t a s k i n g e i t h e r . Y o u do your DOWNSIDES and UPSIDES simultaneously for Life. Otherwise, one can never proclaim knowing how systems operate ( n o t j u s t c o m p u ta t i o n a l s o f t w a r e , b u t S Y S T E M S p e r s e I N U P P E R CASE). T ha t i s , t h a t t h e T O T A L I T Y o f H U M A N K I N D h a s t o c o n v e r g e AT UNISON — “on the doubles” — on the most essentials Herculean tasks to do in order to attempt the sustainability of the c o r r e s p o n d i n g c i v i l i z a t i o n a s i t i s n o w k n o w n / p e r c e iv e d . W ha t a b i g p r o b l e m t o s o l v e t h a t o n e p o s e d b y s o - c a l le d pe r c e p t i o n ! In all seriousness, one must decode, de-encrypt the enigmas of the i n f o r m a t i v e a n d d i s - i n f o r m a t i v e y e t h a l lu c i n a t e d pe r c e p t i o n . T h e r e a re w a y t o o m a n y k i n e t i c h a l l u c i n a t i o n s a n d v iv i d f a b r i c a t i o n s a n d pseudo-actual artifices even in the most lu c i d l y sighted pe r c e p t i o n s a s f l u i d l y r e c o r d e d , i n r e a l t i m e , e v e n i n t h e m o s t p r e pa r e d o f t h e m i n d s . H o w c a n o n e , i n a n a l l - o u t p r a c t i c e d , d e - h a l l u c i n a t e s u c h a t r o c i o u s pe r c e p t i o n s ?
  • 282. 282 D o n ’ t t r u s t p e r c e p t i o n s s i n c e t h e y ’ r e a l l f la w e d a n d e r g o t h e y l ie . D r . H e n r y M i n t z b e r g i n d i c a t e s t h a t “ h u m an s a r e f l a w e d , ” H o w , c ou l d y o u , s u b s e q u e n t l y , o b t a i n d e - f l a w e d p e r c e p t i o n s f r o m f l a w e d h o m i n i d s ? I n o r d e r t o d e - f l a w pe r c e p t i o n s a n d e x e c u t i o n s , y o u must go great distances to begin with, thus as you are still e n t r e n c h e d i n s o - c a l l e d “ S u c c e s s 1 0 1 , t h e i n - b e t w e e n l i n e s 1 , l i n e 1, word 1,” out of a socially engineered preface. A misbehaved future? Virginia Postrel: “ T h e f u t u r e w e f ac e a t t h e d a w n o f t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y i s, l i k e a l l f u t u r e s l e f t t o t h e m s e l v e s , ‘ e m e r g e n t , c o m p l e x m e s s i n e s s . ’ I t s ‘ m e s s i n e s s ’ l i e s n ot i n d i s o r d er , b u t i n a n o r d e r t h at i s u n p r ed i c t ab l e , s p o n t a n e o u s , an d e v e r s h i f t i n g , a p at t e r c r e a t ed by mi l l i o n s of u n c o o r d i n a t ed , i n d e p en d en t d e c i s i o n s . T h e p a t t e r n c o n t a i n s n o t j u s t a f e w h i g h - t ec h gi z m o s , b u t a l l t h e v a r i e g a t e d a s p e c t s o f l i f e . A s p e o p l e c r e at e an d s e l l p r o d u c t s or s e r v i c e s , a d o p t n e w f a s h i o n s o f s p e ec h o r d r e s s , f or m f a m i l i e s a n d c h o o s e h o m e t o wn s , m a k e m e d i c a l d ec i s i on s a n d s e e k s p i r i t u a l i n s i g h t , i n v e s t i g a t e t h e u n i v e r s e a n d i n v e n t n e w f or m s o f ar t , t h e s e a c t i o n s s h a p e a fu t u r e n o o n e c a n s e e , A F UT U R E T H A T I S D Y N A M I C A N D I N H E R E N T L Y U N S T A B L E . ” [ 1 7 0]
  • 283. 283 D o y o u f e e l c o n fu s e d b y s a i d h a l l u c i n a t i o n s ? V e r i f y t h i s q u o t a t i o n b y H e n r y M i l l e r : “ C on f u s i o n i s a w o r d w e h a v e i n v e n t ed f o r a n o r d e r w h i c h i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d . ” From theory to successful execution in excelsis! Before considering these success tenets, let's see what a prominent scientist, to this utter end, has to say. Einstein: “I never d i s c o v e r ed a n y t h i n g wi t h m y r a t i on a l m i n d . ” [ 1 1 1 ] Atrocious hallucinations embedded in perceptions can be “reality c h e c k e d ” b y , f o r e x a m p l e , f o l l o w i n g t h e s e s u c c e s s t e n e t s in y o u r professional/business theater (frame of reference) of operations: ( 1 ) P i c t u r e m en t a l l y r a d i a n t l y . ( 2) D r a w o u t s i d e t h e c an v a s . ( 3) Color outside the vectors. (4) Sketch sinuously. (5) Far-sight beyond the mi n d ’ s i n t a n gi b l e e x o s k e l e t on . ( 6) Ab d u c t i n d i s c e r n i b l e f a l s i f i ab l e c on v i c t i o n s . ( 7 ) R e v e r s e - en g i n e er i n g a g e n e a n d a b a c t e r i u m or , b et t e r y e t , t h e l u c r a t i v e g e n o m e . ( 8) G u i l l o t i n e t h e o v e r - w ei g h t ed st a t u s q u o. ( 9 ) L e a r n h o w t o ad d u p ─ i n y o u r o w n b r a i n y m i n d ─ c o l o r s , d i m e n s i on s , a r o m a s , en c r y p t i o n s , en i g m a s , p h en o m e n a , g e o m e t r i c a l a n d a m o r p h o u s i n - m o t i o n s h a p e s , e n i g m a s , p h e n o m en a , m et h o d s , t ec h n i q u e s , c o d e s , wr i t t e n l i n e s , s y m b o l s , c o n t e xt s , l o c u s , v e n u e s , s e m a n t i c t e r m s , m a g n i t u d e s , l o n gi t u d e s , pr o c e s s e s , t w e e t s , “ k n o w l e d g e -
  • 284. 284 l ad e n ” h u n c h e s , s o f o r t h . ( 1 0 ) P r o j e c t y o u r w i s d o m w e a l t h o n t o c o m m u n i t i e s o f t i m e l e s s - c on n ec t ed w i k i s . ( 1 1 ) C r y o g e n i z e t h e infamous i l l i t e r at e by own c h oi c e an d reincarnate AS A P ( m u l t i v e r s e t e l e p o r t i n g o u t o f a w a r p e d / w o r m ed p a s s a g e ) D a V i n c i , B ac o n , N e w t o n , G o e t h e , B o n a p ar t e , E d i s o n , Fr a n k l y n , E i n st e i n a n d F e y n m a n . ( 1 2) O r g an i z e r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n t o v o l u n t a r y a s s o c i a t i o n s t h a t a r e m u t u a l l y b en e f i c i a l an d a c c o u n t a b l e f o r c o n t r i b u t i n g p r od u c t i v e l y t o t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t y . ( 1 3) P r ac t i c e t h e c en t r a l r u l e o f g o o d st r a t e g y , w h i c h i s t o k n o w an d r e m a i n t r u e t o y o u r c or e b u si n e s s a n d i n v e s t f o r l e a d er s h i p a n d R&D+Innovation. (14) Kaisen, S i xS i g m a , Lean, LeanSigma, “ R e l i ab i l i t y E n g i n e er ” (the l at t er as solely c on c ei v e d and developed by P r o c t er & Gamble an d Los Alamos National L a b o r at o r i e s ) i t a l l u n t h i n k a b l y a n d t h o r o u g h l y b y r ec o m b i n a n t , a l à E i n s t e i n G ed a n k e - m o t o r i z e d j u d g m en t ( t h at i s t o s a y : E i n st e i n i a n G ed a n k e [ “ t h o u g h t e x p er i m e n t s ” ] a s fu r t h e r e x p l a i n ed at http://slidesha.re/e3lMaE). (15) Provide a r o ad - m a p / blueprint for d r a st i c a l l y compressing ( ‘c r a s h i n g ’ ) the time’s ‘ r et i c u l e s ’ i t w i l l t a k e y o u t o g e t o n t h e t o p o f y o u r t en u r e , n on e t h e l e s s o f y o u r or g a n i z a t i o n a l le v e l . ( 1 6 ) W i t h t h e r e q u i r ed k n o w l e d g e a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s e m b ed d ed i n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , c r e at e s u p p o r t f o r , a n d c a r r y ou t t r an s f o r m a t i on i n i t i a t i v e s . ( 17 ) O f f e r a t e s t e d p a t h w a y f o r a d d r e s s i n g t h e l i n k e d c h a l l e n g e s o f p er s o n a l transition and organizational t r an s f o r m a t i o n that c o n fr o n t
  • 285. 285 l e ad e r s i n t h e f i r s t f e w m o n t h s i n a n e w t en u r e . ( 1 8 ) F o s t e r momentum by creating virtuous cycles that build credibility and b y a v o i d i n g g e t t i n g c au g h t i n v i c i o u s c y c l e s t h a t h a r m c r ed i b i l i t y . ( 1 9 ) I n s t i t u t e c o a l i t i o n s t h at t r an s l a t e i n t o s w i f t er o r g a n i z a t i o n a l ad j u s t m en t s t o t h e i n e v i t a b l e s t r e a m s o f c h an g e i n p e r s o n n el a n d en v i r o n m en t . ( 2 0 ) M o b i l i z e a n d a l i gn t h e o v e r r i d i n g e n er g y o f m a n y ot h e r s i n y o u r o r g a n i z at i o n , k n o w i n g t h at t h e “ w i s d o m o f c r o w d s ” i s u p f r o n t a n d o u t r i g h t r u b b i sh . ( 2 1) S t e p o u t s i d e t h e boundaries of the framework’s system when seeking a problem s o l u t i o n . ( 2 2 ) W i t h i n z i l l i o n t i n y b e t s , r a i s e t h e a n t e a n d c a pt u r e the d oc u m en t ed learning through fr e n z y e x e c u t i on . (23) “ M o o n s h i n e ” a n d “ S k u n k s - w o r k ” a l l , h o ld i n g i n y o u r m i n d t h e m o t i o n - p i c t u r e i m a g e t h a t , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e r e l e v a n c e o f “ i n pu t s ” and “ ou t p u t s , ” en t a i l s the highest r el e v a n c e is wi t h i n the s o p h i s t i c at i o n wi t h i n t h e T H R O U G H P U T . ( 2 4) D on ’ t c o p y N a t u r e , d o n ’ t e v e n c o p y U n i v e r s e . J u s t c o p y t h e M u lt i v e r s e . ( 2 5 ) C or r e l at e everything el s e wi t h the i g n o r ed and unthinkable ‘else’ of everything else f or e v e r . (26) Combine the pr a c t i c a l and t e c h n o l o g i c a l w i t h t h e m y s t e r i ou s a n d m e a n i n g f u l . ( 27 ) P e n c i l your map. (28) Brush your r o ad - m a p . (29) Scratch your b l u e p r i n t . ( 3 0 ) C o n c ei v e , d e v e l o p an d s h a r e u n t h i n k a b l e l e s s o n s l e ar n e d . ( 3 1 ) F a c i l i t at e a h et e r o g e n e o u s g r o u p — i n t h e m i d s t o f a p p a l l i n g i n t er p e r s o n a l c h e m i s t r y — t o w a r d t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f a c o m m o n g o a l . ( 3 2) L e a r n c o m p l e x n e w s k i l l s a n d n e w w a y s t o
  • 286. 286 m a k e c or p o r a t e m i r a c l e s c r y s t a l l i z e . ( 3 3) T y p o t h e c a r t o o n . ( 3 4) K e y s t r o k e t h e d r a w i n g . ( 3 5) E n c u l t u r at e y o u r b r ai n t o o p e r a t e e x ec u t i o n s f r o m t h e a p p l i ed o mn i s c i en c e v i a t h e l en s e s a n d springs of systems m et h o d o l o g y . (36) Manage RISKS and B E N E F I T S i n s e r i e s a n d n e v e r i n p a r a l l e l. ( 3 7 ) R e m o v e ac c i d e n t c a u s e s p r i or t o a l o s s , k n o w i n g t h a t a n a c c i d e n t i s n e v er a r an d o m stroke of f a t e, but an u t t er and thus pu r p or t e d i n s t r u m e n t o f i gn o r a n c e . ( 3 8 ) C o n v e r t y o u r v i e w p oi n t t o a s y s t e m s a p p r o ac h . ( 3 9 ) E n a b l e fu l l - or b ed an d b a l an c ed s t ab i li t y o f y o u r t h i n k ab l e s an d u n t h i n k ab l e s . ( 4 0 ) At t e m p t t o k n o w , e ar l y o n , t h e e n d f r o m t h e b e gi n n i n g . ( 4 1) I d en t i f y d r i v i n g f o r c e s t o m a k e b e t t e r d e c i s i o n s , m a n a g e u n c er t a i n t y , an d pr o f i t f r o m c h a n g e . ( 4 2 ) D e c l ar e t h e p a s t , r e c o v e r y e s t e r d a y , a n a l y z e t h e p r e s e n t , e n j o y t od a y , a n d r ei n v e n t t o m o r r o w . ( 4 3) B u i ld y o u r o w n F U T U R E t r a n sc e n d i n g y o u r p a s t . ( 4 4 ) C o n t or t y o u r m i n d fu l , mindless executions — and those in the midst of 'mindful' and fu ' m i n d l e s s ' e x e c u t i on s — s o l e l y ou t o f t h i s w o r l d , a n d s o l e l y o u t o f t h i s u n i v e r s e , a n d s o l e l y ou t o f t h i s r e a l i t y , b u t n ot j u s t f o r t h e i n e x p e n s i v e , t an g e n t i a l , i m p i ou s s a k e o f i n t e l l ec t u a l s t u n t s , b u t o n l y s o t h a t t h e ' l i f e ' h a s n o t u n fr u i t fu l ' a f t e r l i f e ' — s o - c a l l e d — , a n d a l s o s o t h at t h e ' w o r l d ' h a s n o ' a f t e r w or l d ' ( a s w e ll a s , i n c o n g r u e n c e w i t h t h e p r e s en t w o r k , ‘ a f t e r - u n i v e r s e ’ a n d e v e n ‘ a f t er - v e r s e . ’ ) — s o - c a l l e d —. A r en ’ t a f t er l i f e an d a ft e r w o r ld d i s i n t e r m ed i a t ed a n y w a y ? N o w , y o u , a n d m e r e l y y o u , p r oc e e d
  • 287. 287 a n d t r a n s c en d y o u r s e l f , b y y o u r s e l f a n d f o r y o u r s e l f . ( 4 5 ) “I f y o u really want to make an o p er a t i on a l difference in your p r o f e s s i o n a l t h e at e r o f o p er a t i o n s , g o a n d g e t a fu l l i m m er s i o n i n the fringe. Right in their, under that tense an d pr e s s i n g d yn a m i c s , y o u ’ l l h a v e t h e v a n t a g e f lu x o f t h e mi r a g e . ( 4 6 ) “ T a n t a l i z e y o u r t a n g e n t i a l p r e - c o g n i t i on an d c o gn i t i o n i n t o e v e r - m et a m o r p h o s i n g your attentive and contemplative trans- m ed i t at i o n Z en . ( 4 7 ) D e - r e a l i z e o f t h u s d e - f o c u s fr o m t h at t a k en - f o r - g r an t ed r e a l i t i e s o f f o l l y , li t er a l l y ! , ( 4 8 ) M o s t l y i n - s o u r c e y o u r m i n d wi t h l on g - u n k n o w n v i r t u a li t i e s . ( 4 9 ) A s s u r e t h a t t h e r e are n ot u n s e a r c h ed ar e a s of risk, benefit an d sustainable o p p o r t u n i t i e s . ( 5 9 ) E n c u l t u r at e y o u r s e l f an d t h o s e i n y o u r c r e w a n d i n t h e o r b i t o f i n c u m b en t s t a k e h o ld e r w i t h m o s t a c t i o n a b l e , a p p l i e d o m n i sc i e n c e < < h t t p: / / s l i d e s h a . r e/ o m i s c i > > R e m e m b e r c u l t u r e wi t h ou t s c i en c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y i s b e y o n d b l i n d . ( 6 0 ) C u l t i v a t e t h e h i g h e s t m a n i f e s t at i o n s o f h u m a n i n t el l i g e n c e s : v i s i o n , d i sc i p l i n e , p a s s i o n a n d c on s c i e n c e . ( 6 1 ) Ac h i e v e n e x t - l e v e l b r e a k t h r o u gh i n p r od u c t i v i t y , i n n o v a t i o n a n d l e ad e r s h i p i n t h e m a r k et p l a c e a n d s o c i e t y . ( 6 2 ) De v e l o p t h e i n t e r n a l p o w e r a n d m o r a l a u t h o r i t y t o b r e a k o u t o f t h o s e p r o b l e m s t o b ec o m e a s i g n i f i c a n t f o r c e i n s o l v i n g t h e m . ( 6 3 ) U s e y o u r v o i c e an d d e e d s t o s u p er b l y serve your organization’s purposes, functions and s t a k e h o l d e r s . ( 6 4 ) M a gn i f y y o u r c u r r en t gi f t s , t al e n t s , s k i l l s a n d d e x t e r i t i e s . ( 6 5 ) T a k e a pr i o r l e a r n i n g f o r L i f e , a p p l y i t t o a n e w
  • 288. 288 s i t u a t i o n , l e a r n f r o m p r ac t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , a n d a p p l y t h e n e w l e ar n i n g . ( 6 6 ) P e r v a s i v e l y r e a s o n fr o m e f f ec t t o c au s e a n d f r o m c a u s e t o e f f ec t . ( 6 7 ) E n v i s i on s h r e w d y e t c a lc u l a t ed r i s k s , f r o m s t ar t t o e n d , t o t u r n d o w n s i d e s i n t o u p si d e s . ” ( S e e d e f i n i t i o n o f “throughput” at [53]). [92] [129] T h e f u n c t i o n o f t h e “ m o t i o n p ic t u r e ” i m a g e i s t o “ s h o w e a r l y o n ” b e f o r e t h e m i n d a l u c i d f i l m o f in c e s s a n t l y a l t e r i n g f u t u r e s . T h e pu r p o s e o f t h e v i s i o n i s n e v e r t o s h o w a f i l m o f a n i r r e v o c a b l y fixed future. Come to think of it thoroughly, throughput is embodied by the Latin term “modus operandi.” Through ages the concept of mission-critical “throughput” has regularly been represented by said Latin term. Clearly, as eons elapse, in the West we do need a great translation into English. Through implementation of your organizational, corporate, institutional, entrepreneurial modus operandi, you can shape up your modus vivendi. P o s s i b l y , t h i s F U T U R E w i l l n o t h a v e — a s pe r t h e f l a w e d h o p e s t r e a s u r e d b y a l l - w a l k s - o f - l i f e e ye w i t n e s s e s — a “ n a t u r a l t e n d e n c y . ” S ta t e d p l a i n l y , b e c a u s e i t i s b e i n g e n v i s i o n e d a n d w o r k e d - o u t
  • 289. 289 p r e t e r - n a t u r a l l y , t h i s F U T U R E m a y a p p e a r — b e f o r e o u r n a ke d e y e s — w i t h e x t r e m e t e n d e n c i e s a n d d i r e c t i v e s t h a t e v o ke t h e m o s t extravagant and transhuman mandates. Can anyone undergo an epiphany in reversal? Long time ago, speaking of my professional experience while testing and experimenting, I have reduced probabilities of having “ b r e a k t h r o u g h ” e p i p h a n i e s t o z e r o , l i t e r a l l y. I h a d e n v i s i o n e d m a n y “ E u r e k a t i m e s ” l o n g t i m e a g o a n d ye t in a dv a n c e . I d o h a v e an immense way to go very much to my blessed apostle-hood. O n e m u s t c on s i d e r t h a t I t o y a n d p l a y w i t h n o t o n l y E d i s o n i a n R e s e a r c h b u t a l s o w i t h o w n s e lf - in d u c e d : ( a ) S e r e n d i p i t i e s , ( b) P s e u d o - s e r e n d i p i t i e s , ( c ) R a n d o m i z e d s e r e n d i p i t i e s , ( d) P s e u d o - randomized serendipities, and e) Pseudo-randomized serendipities. For cases (a), (b), (c), and (d) I also play a great deal with c ha n n e l i n g t h e “ t h r o u g h p u t ” w i t h ( 1) d i r e c t n e s s , ( 2) in d i r e c t n e s s , a n d ( 3 ) a c o m b i n a t i o n o f i m m e d i a t e l y p r e v i o u s ( 1 ) a n d ( 2) . A l l o f the above, in further progression of my testing and experimenting, as well as my fact-finding and fact-disproving research, I subject t o a g r a d a t i o n ( “ g r a y s c a l e s h a d i n g , ” s o t o , s p e a k ) o f ( i) l o o s e , ( i i ) c o n t r o l , a n d a c o m b i n a t i o n o f i m m e d i a t e l y p r e v i o u s ( i) a n d ( i i ) .
  • 290. 290 The terms “extravagant” and “transhuman,” in this case, apply for e v e n t h e u l t i m a t e l y l e a d i n g - e d g e p r a c t i t i o n e r o f t h e s c i e n t if i c r e a l m , e i t h e r w i t h i n t h a t e m in e n t e s t a b l i s h m e n t , o r t h o s e w i t h a n unauthenticated citizenship from the avant-garde renegade-verse. It might be a genuine deal, it might not? S a i d d i c t a t o r w i l l n o t i m p e r s o n a t e a n y o n e . He w i l l b e T H E maximum MONARCH OF TECHNOCRACY by his own right, R e m e m b e r ? Y e s , y e s , y e s — I kn o w , T e c h n o c r a c y, t h e g e n t l e m a n that just espoused a lady with an appalling temperament that loses composure oft, even before the state’s visits by the Holly Pope and her Royal Highness the Queen of England. H e r g i v e n n a m e i s “ G l o b a l . ” H e r s u r n a m e i s “ C r i s e s . ” T ha t ’ s t h e r e a s o n w h y t h i s “ p o w e r c o u p l e ” h a s m a d e S i r F ra n c i s B a c o n a b e s t - selling icon, “FOR TIME IS THE GREATEST INNOVATOR.” Gotten it? This Monarch will expel every laggard and every one that, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g h i s / h e r m o s t a dv a n c e d e d u c a t i o n , w o r s h i p s a n d disseminates ignorance. This expel will include the transfer of the s e l e c t e d o n e t o a r e c o n d i t e “ c u rv e d ” c o r n e r o f t h e Un i v e r s e o r t h e
  • 291. 291 M u l t i v e r s e . I n s p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e M u l t i v e r s e , w e m u s t u se t h e f o l l o w i n g qu o t a t i o n . W h e r e i s t h e s t r a t e g i c s u r pr i s e i g n o r e d ? J o h n B u r d o n S a n d e r s o n H a l d a n e ( 1 8 9 2 — 1 9 6 4 ) : “I h a v e n o d o u b t t h a t i n r e a l i t y t h e f u t u r e w i l l b e v a s t l y m or e s u r p r i s i n g t h an a n yt h i n g I c a n i m a g i n e. N o w m y o w n s u s p i c i o n i s t h at t h e u n i v er s e i s n o t o n l y q u e e r e r t h an w e s u p p o s e , b u t q u e e r er t h an w e can suppose.” T h e P R E S E N T c a r r i e s o n s u p e r f lu o u s l y . B u t t h e F UT U R E i s o v e r - impregnated and super-immersed with d e t a i le d meaning and significance and with projected transgressive-ly and a là “omni m o d e ” m a n n e r s , a s w e l l a s w i t h i t s m a n if e s t i n g t a n g i b l y a n d y e t pa l p a b l y i n t a n g i b l y p e r v a s i v e u b i qu i t y . Perpetual innovation is a rogue truth to this PRESENT. The breadth, depth, scope, subtlety, intricacy, and rate of acceleration o f t h i s F U T U R E ’ s p e r p e t u a l in n o v a t i o n w i l l b e e n d l e s s , e n d l e s s s o that is beyond the wildest dreams or nightmares ever conceived by the ultimately noted or most criticized sci-fi writer.
  • 292. 292 T o a t t r i b u t e t o t h i s F U T U R E ’ s p e r p e t u a l in n o v a t i o n a q u a l i t y o f far-fetched will be as well an extreme over-simplification and an e x i s t e n t i a l b l u n d e r a n d t h e g r e a t e s t a n d m o s t pu b l i c pe r s o n a l a c k n o w l e d g m e n t o f o w n w o r s h i p e d s u p in e i g n o r a n c e . The PRESENT is 1% a function of the PAST and, above all, a 99% function of the FUTURE. The PRESENT stifles innovation and fosters rigidity. The PRESENT is inevitably a means to an end. The end is unavoidably the FUTURE. The PRESENT always remains polemically unresolved. The F U T U R E , a s p e r t h e l o n g v ie w g a in e d t h r o u g h t h e M u l t i v e r s e , i n i t s d e e pe s t c o r e i s e v e n , s t a b l e a n d o r g a n i z e d . R e m e m b e r : T h e F U T U R E i s e te r n a l l y p r e - c la s h i n g a n d / o r c la s h i n g the PRESENT, thus continuously shaping and re-shaping the PRESENT to a great extent. The FUTURE is, so to speak and at least, 30% a function of the PRESENT and 70% a function of the FUTURE itself. Percentages are arbitrarily suggested in order to i l lu s t r a t e .
  • 293. 293 The PRESENT is bathed by the ill-presumed permanency and by the quality of being impermanent. The PRESENT is never a s n a p s h o t o r f i x e d ( s t a t i c ) . I t i s t h e l i n k a g e , s u pe r p o s i t i o n , a n d / o r c o n t e n t i o u s i n t e r t w i n i n g o f m a n y f i l m s ( mu l t i - f lu i d d y n a m i c s / kinetics). Its dynamism grants itself, the PRESENT, huge ambitions to b e c o m i n g t h e F U T U R E w h i l e t r y i n g t o c a p tu r e t h e “ h e r e a n d n o w ” mirage, a mirage (a misdemeanor) that does not care losing the sense of ridicule in worldwide football / soccer game through worldwide broadcasting “live.” T h e r e a re t o o m a n y “ h e r e s ” a n d a m y r i a d o f “ n o w s ” w i t h o u t t h e utter and indispensable acknowledgment that the perennial, t r e m b l i n g g a p b e t w e e n t h e P R E S E N T a n d F UT U R E g e n e r a t e s m a n y c re a t i v e t e n s i o n s , r e g a r d l e s s if i t i s h a r v e s t e d o r n o t . The PRESENT is at least unceasingly in f i n i t e , unless its i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e F U T U R E s t o p s . T he FU T U R E i s n e v e r e n d l e s s u n l e s s a g r e a t a n o m a l y t a ke s p la c e . C o n c e r n i n g t h e P R E S E N T a n d s p e c ia l l y t h e F U T U R E , t h e g r e a t majority of people failed considering the possibility of anything
  • 294. 294 going wrong, no matter how remote the location or complexity of the implementation environment. T h e P R E S E N T a n d t h e F UT U R E e n g e n d e r t s u n a m i s o f C H A N G E S , p r i n c i p a l l y t h o s e c h a n g e s n e v e r t h o u g h t t h r o u g h . W he n y o u a l t e r e d your work because of competition and/or difficult times, you are C H A N G I N G y o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l o c c u pa t i o n ( o r g a n i za t i o n a l s t r a t e g y ) . T h e P R E S E N T h a s o r d e r l y b e e n u s e d t o b e i n g a la n d a t t h e d a w n o f history, that history architect-ed by a bunch of biographies and auto-biographies by the winners and the prevailing ones without considering the side of the losing ones or that of those without pa r t i s a n p o s i t i o n s . The PRESENT’s du t i e s a re a p pe n d e d to the FUTURE. T he P R E S E N T ’ s r i g h t s a re a p pe n d e d t o t h e P A S T . A statement in this direction? Y o g i B e r r a : “ T h e f u t u r e a i n ’ t w h a t i t u s ed t o b e . ” [ 1 4 2 ] W h e n y o u r e f l e c t a n d m o d i f y y ou i n n e r m o s t ( a n d t h a t o n e r e v o l t i n g a n d c o m m u t i n g w i t h i n t h e in n e r m o s t b y u s in g i t s o w n p r o p r i e t a r y t r a n s l a t i o n a l a n d r o t a t i o n a l m o v e s ) , y o u a re C H A N G I N G y o u r
  • 295. 295 essence to some extent. C H A N G I NG your essence to being ADAPTABLE to ever-shifting realities will be your utmost sensible deed. W h e n C HA N G E i s p e r p e tu a l l y a l t e r i n g a l l t y p e s o f C HA N G E S , t h e scientific properties of known and unknown changes get modified, sometimes profoundly and sometimes to an indescribable unknown. This extreme modification is what I have been referring to ‘CHANGED CHANGES.’ CHANGED CHANGES make the overwhelming case for “beyond unprecedented” reinvention of humans, lifestyles, organizations, businesses, governments, nongovernmental organizations, societies, and worldwide society. In the process, the extreme m a k e o v e r i s i n n o t h i n g s u pe r f i c ia l o r s i m i l a r . A n d t h e c a l l i s a n a b r u p t w a k e - u p a l a r m t o a l l s o r t s o f le a d e r s , managers, entrepreneurs, business owners, government administrators, consultants, a dv i s e r s , strategists, professors, teachers, students, researchers, and any breathing or cryogenized human being. Welcome to a new “normal” and a new “abnormal.” In all v e r i s i m i l i t u d e , t h e r e a re m a n y n e w “ n o r m a l s ” a n d “ a b n o r m a l s ”
  • 296. 296 ( b o t h w i t h s c i e n t i f i c n o r m a l i t y ) b e i n g t h e la t t e r , i n c i d e n ta l l y , a s well within normality. At the time being, it does not matter anymore where you come from and how this impact your ‘current’ PRESENT. Instead, what is presently relevant for you to envision are the floating, fluxing, c r o s s - ra i l e d F U T U R E S a s t h e y c l i m b t h e t r e a c h e r o u s b u i l d i n g - block la d d e r , the ladder of accumulation of opportunities, c ha l l e n g e s , a n d pe r p l e x i n g , b u t e x u be r a n t t r a d e - o f f s . N e i t h e r exuberance nor trade-offs are for the uncultivated. T h e s e t r a d e s - o f f s p o i s e t h e l e a s t t h i n k a b l e o f t h e u n t h i n ka b l e r e s u l t s , c ha l l e n g i n g o u r b o d y ( p h y s i o l o g y ) , m i n d ( p s y c h o l o g y ) , a n d soul (spirit). If you think “exuberant” is a fancy or undesirable t e r m , k i n d l y p l e a s e wa i t u n t i l y o u c o m e t o m e e t y o u r F U T U R E in pe r s o n . T o a p p l y , s a y , f o r p r a c t i c a l le a d e r s h i p c re d e n t i a l s w i l l b e a n e a r l y , though not impossible, in s u r m o u n t a b l e e n te r p r i s e for Life. L e a d e r s h i p t o w h a t ( a ) B e n c h m a r k , ( b) M e t r i c , ( c ) O b j e c t i v e , ( d ) G oa l , ( e ) F u n c t i o n , ( f ) P u r p o s e ? H o w i n s u r m o u n t a b l e ? A s n e a r l y in s u r m o u n t a b l e a s a t t e m p t i n g t o h i k e t h e E v e r e s t c l o t h - l e s s , e qu i p m e n t - le s s , i l l - p r e p a r e d , f la w e d -
  • 297. 297 m i n d e d w i t h o u t a c re w a n d t h e i n d i s p e n s a b l e S h e r p a , a s y o u w a l k and climb toward the mountain’s peak with your back focused on t h e pe a k a n d w h i l e y o u r e y e s a r e g r a b b e d b y t h e s t a r t i n g - p o i n t locus. You have the right to successfully seek the anti-canonical milestone, Haven't you? You can continually walk into the FUTURE backwards to revive the f o s s i l i z e d v e s t i g e s o f b l u r r e d / m a d e - u p / a r t i f i c i a l “ a r t i f ic e s ” - d r i v e n memories that eat your soul out. A healthy medical prescriptions w i l l d i c t a t e : “ T h e p a t i e n t m u s t a l w a y s f o c u s o n t h e F UT U R E . I n t h e p r o c e s s , a n d i n o r d e r t o k e e p i t s e x i s t e n c e , h e / s h e mu s t always REMEMBER THE FUTURE IN ADVANCE.” Y o u k n o w w h a t t h e P A S T i s ? R e p l y : T h e e t e r n a l f l o w o f in c r e a s i n g c re a t i v e - t e n s i o n and c on t r o v e r s i a l discrepancies between the F U T U R E a n d t h e P R E S E N T , e n c a p s u la t e d i n a s t r e a m o f s e g m e n t s f r o m t h e “ p r e t e r i t t e n s e ” k i n g d o m , a k in g d o m t h a t i s n e i t h e r a wa k e n n o r s i g n i f i c a n t a n y m o r e . Historians and some actuaries, in a hurry, will be shouting that they stop being “retrospective” to becoming “prospective” (and c re a t i v e l y s o ) g i v e n t h e e te r n a l l y - h a p p e n i n g i n f l i c t i n g p o i n t s o f inflections requiring exuberant solving. As I have met actuaries w i t h a r a t h e r o b t u s e m i n d ─ e n t r e n c h e d in a f o s s i l i z e d pa s t o f
  • 298. 298 u se l e s s n e s s ─ , I h a v e a l s o m e t w i t h p r o m i n e n t a c tu a r i e s ( m o s t o f them with the application of other academic and knowledge discipline), chiefly in North America and Europe, that subscribe the view of the undersigned. Paraphrasing Ray Kurzweil [ 1] , “…as or d er from F UT U R E e x p o n en t i a l l y increases, d e s i gn a t e d time e x p on e n t i a l l y and i n c e s s a n t l y s p e ed s u p b y e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g o r d er s o f m a g n i t u d e . ” The PRESENT is just a fluid venue progressively bumped and shocked by the interactions between the unfortunately fossilized P A S T a n d t h e F U T U R E t h r o u g h t h e in t e r - m e d i a t i o n o f t h e s o - called PRESENT. C le a r l y , t h e g e n e t i c s o f t h e h u m a n b e i n g s w i l l h a v e a n o t a b l e impact on the psychology and physiology of the humans until the FUTURE’s say, want it or not, like it or not. Such a say has a d e s i g n a t e d “ d u e t i m e . ” D u e t i m e i s n o t a f i x e d p o i n t b u t a m a ze o f sinuous lines. By all enforced effects, the FU T U R E is by any means a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h r e e f a c e t s . T he r e i s t h e f a c e t o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t w e c a n c a l l U P S I D E R I S KS .
  • 299. 299 A n o t h e r f a c e t i s t h a t o f t h e l i ke l i h o o d o f p o t e n t i a l d i s r u p t i o n . T h e f o r m e r i m p e r s o n a t e s t h e D O W N S I D E RI S K . Thirdly, there’s the facet of blended UPSIDE R I S KS with D OW N S I D E RI S K S . To really get the OPPORTUNITIES the D OW N S I D E RI S K S m u s t b e t e r m i n a t e d o r , a t l e a s t , m i t i g a t e d a n d m o d u l a t e d . T h o s e D OW N S I D E R I S K S m u s t b e b r o u g h t u n d e r o p t i m u m c on t r o l a s p e r t h e t e c h n i c a l p a r l a n c e I e m p l o y . Such e te r n a l c re a t i v e - t e n s i o n d i s c r e p a n c ie s / disputes — as i m p o s e d b y t h e r o g u e a n d n e a r l y a g e le s s i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the FUTURE and the PRESENT — as the FUTURE wages an all-out “preemptive war” to get the PAST under retirement. T h e s e e t e r n a l c re a t i v e - t e n s i o n d i s c r e p a n c ie s m a k e t h r e e m a j o r displacements. Firstly, it displaces the PAST to a corner (or quadrant) where vestiges are fossilized but not looked after. It must be mentioned that interrelationship between the FUTURE and the PRESENT is intense and will become increasingly more i n t e n s e , b e y o n d t h e b o l d e s t a n d lu c i d i m a g i n a t i o n w i t h o u t a f a i l.
  • 300. 300 Mother Nature is a great and loving and noble matriarch. The U n i v e r s e i s t h e o l d e s t a n d w i s e s t P a t r i a r c h , pe r h a p s t h e e l d e r s o n of the greatest intelligence of all. The Multiverse (many universes happening and reckoning at the same time, possessing many dimensions) is not only the maximum, a l l - e n a b l i n g P a t r i a r c h , b u t a l s o a p e r v a s i v e P a t r i c ia n h o l d i n g t h e greatest intelligence, wealth, perhaps the elder son of applied o m n i s c i e n c e , g e n e t i c s , b i o t e c h n o l o g y ( i n c lu d i n g b i o - in f o r m a t i c s ) , neuro-technology ( i n c lu d i n g n e u r o - in f o r m a t i c s ) , robotics, i n f o r m a t i o n t e c h n o l o g y ( i n c lu d i n g A r t i f ic i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e ─ i . e . AI in ─ a n d I n t e l l i g e n c e A m p l i f i c a t i o n ─ i. e . AI ─ ) , n a n o t e c h n o l o g y , material science technology, technology stemming from science of complexity with the holistic perspective of applied omniscience. [41] To see applied omniscience defined by the author, see the r e s p e c t i v e a p p e n d i x h e r e in c lu d e d . S u c c e s s f u l a n d t o u g h , s u b t l e , r e f i n e d , g r a n u la r r e v e r s e - e n g i n e e r i n g captures breakthrough innovations for the PRESENT’ and from the FUTURE’s dominion. Reverse-engineering all regardless of its origins, terrestrial or extraterrestrial. Come to think of it and c o n c l u d e t h a t b o t h ( a ) a l l a n d ( b) e v e r y t h i n g i s p r i m o r d i a l l y a n d ultimately extraterrestrial.
  • 301. 301 In the last analysis, everything is terrestrial and exo-terrestrial. This is important to bear in mind. Terrestrial or extraterrestrial, w h a t a f r u i t l e s s a r gu m e n t a s t h a t o f t h e g e n d e r o f t h e a n g e l s , i s ultimately guided by the Multiverse (period). The Earth (so too: Earthlings, always greatly non-terrestrials, a n d / o r B u c k m i n s t e r F u l le r ’ s E a r t h i a n s ) i s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e Universe. [47]. The Universe is a function of the M u l t iv e r s e . Perhaps, the M u l t i v e r s e i s a f u n c t i o n o f m o s t k n o w n a n d c h i e f l y u n kn o w n f o r m s of utmost conscientious awareness and supremely lu c i d intelligence. E v e r y h u m a n i s pa r t l y e a r t h l i n g a n d p a r t l y e x t r a t e r r e s t r i a l . W h y ? Because pre bio-genesis and bio-genesis was (at least and as it seems) massively instilled from the outer space (a sub-verse of the Multiverse). If extraterrestrial beings existed, they would be, in fact, siblings to c u r r e n t h u ma n s . H o w c o m e ? B e c a u s e t h e r e a r e o t h e r g e n e s i s different from bio-genesis on Earth, whether within our knowledge o r n o t . A g e n e s i s d o e s n o t o n l y t a k e p la c e o n l y o n E a r t h , b u t i n t h e
  • 302. 302 whole Universe if it is or not under kn o w n and unknown modes/assumptions. To capture benefits and to extreme-make-over, say, leadership and to scientifically steward disruption potential into exploited upsides (to make success seizing crystallize), y ou need to understand the PRESENT, the F UT U R E , and its frenzy i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p . I n m a k in g t h i s e f f o r t o p t i m u m — a n d a m o n g other prerequisites — we must find out and address two topics. One topic has to do with how we reached this PRESENT out of a s c a t t e r e d P A S T ’ s t e c h n o l o g i c a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t a s we c o n s t r u c t e d an e x pa n d e d knowledge repository just by p r a c t i c in g future scenarios through radiant foresight, far-sight, hindsight, insight, a n d i n n e r m o s t - s i g h t . A d m i t t e d l y , t h i s i s n o s m a l l ta s k . The most reasoned foresight and far-sight, sine qua non to recalling the FUTURE, is only a function of innermost-sight outwardly. A n o t h e r t o p i c i s t h a t i n s i d i o u s h a b i t o f t h e F UT U R E i n s e d u c i n g the as-of-now PRESENTS while the citizens of such PRESENTS m a k e u s a ge n t s o m a n y l o o k i n g - f o r w a r d c ha n g e s t h a t s e t a f i r e t h e i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h i s P R E S E N T a n d t h i s F UT U R E .
  • 303. 303 Now we know how we got to “here,” “here” is the hyper-dynamism o f f l o w s , i n - f l o w s , c ou n t e r - f l o w s , a v a n t - g a r d e f l o w s , c r o s s e d - pollinated flows, point-inflecting flows. “As-of-now” exactly refers to the PRESENT-FUTURE’s own tête-à-tête. [38] “Here,” while planted in the PAST, was a bit statistical but never really so. The so-called “here” is undergoing a total immersion of numberless processes, throughputs, transactions, deeds, e tc . “Here” has incessantly been mobilized. “Now” is motorized at a rate that is beyond awe-inspiring. W e j u s t g o t t h e “ n o w ” a b o u t r i g h t t o t h i s p o i n t . T o t u r n s a v v ie r o n t h i s F U T U R E , o n e mu s t b e a g e n i u s in h i s e x e c u t i o n s ( s i c ) , y o c t o s e c o n d b y y o c t o s e c o n d , w h i c h i s o n e s e p t i l l i o n t h ( 1 0 - 2 4) o f a second. [48] Then, s/he has to make the greatest effort of all, that is, to think unthinkably in relation to present forces and pe r t a i n i n g to futuristic trends — both subtle and dramatic ones as well as those driving and marshaling and enforcing just brute-force dramatic
  • 304. 304 o n e s — b y m e a n s o f t h e p r a c t i c a l i m p l e m e n ta t i o n o f s c e n a r i o p la n n i n g . All of the previous without ignoring the flagrant and less-are- s o m e t i m e s - m o r e i n t e r a c t i o n s in s t r u m e n t e d b y s a i d f o r c e s . T h e r e i n a f t e r , y o u r u n t h i n k a b l e t h i n k i n g a b o u t F UT U R E S m u s t b e c o m e m o r e r e f i n e d , e n h a n c e d , e x u be r a n t , s t r e a m l i n e d , d i v e r s e , expanded, disciplined, and extended. In doing so, it never suffices to come up with a three-scenario forecast (not even with the prehistoric “compounded forecast”). S u b s e q u e n t l y , f o r e c a s t s m u s t c a r r y w i t h y ou a s m a n y p l a u s i b l e o r i m p l a u s i b l e s c e n a r i o s ( a d in f i n i tu m i n d e e d) a s r e s o u r c e s r e q u i r e d never lacking the maximum rigor. Also, no optimum forecast is g r e a t e n o u g h i f i t i s n o t a c c o m p a n ie d w i t h a n a r s e n a l o f p l a n s o f contingency. Each scenario crafted must have its respective, unambiguous plans of contingency without a fail. All of this is true for humans from the PAST and the PRESENT. T o w a r d s a m o r e a dv a n c e d t i m e — a n d b y m e a n s o f r e v e r s e - engineering with the omniscience perspective — the humans will i n c r e a s i n g l y b e o f d i f f e r e n t c on s t i t u e n t s a n d d e s i g n , a s we l l a s
  • 305. 305 d i f f e r e n t c o n c e r n i n g pu r p o s e , f u n c t i o n , a n d a c o m b i n a t i o n o f pu r p o s e a n d f u n c t i o n s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . We will become more “intimate” with our eternally ignored r e la t i o n s h i p w i t h a t o m i c a n d s u b - a t o m i c p a r t i c l e s ( n o t t o g e t myself involved in “dark matter” and “divine” or “God’s matter”). T h e P R E S E N T i s c h a n g e l e s s l y u n n e c e s s a r i l y d e la y e d o r e v e n l o s t a n d i n a t t e n t i v e b e c a u s e i t s l i m i t s a re i m p e r m a n e n t a n d a v a i l a b l e capabilities are finite. T h e P R E S E N T n e v e r c o n t e m p l a t e s f a s t - f o r w a r d - l y, b u t i n r e v e r s a l in so adding to its even greater inherent disadvantage. The FUTURE operates beyond the offensive acceleration of “light s p e e d ” - p lu s a n d n e a r l y w i t h o u t o r w i t h z e r o l i m i t s o r c o n s t r a i n t s or borders. The FUTURE is the Napoleonic Emperor that does everything only u n d e r i t s o w n t e r m s , e x p l o i t i n g e v e r y a dv a n t a g e a n d d i s a d v a n t a g e to its lucrative well-being and omni-ruling. The FUTURE is accustomed to spying on the PRESENT. How come? T h e F U T U R E i s t h e P R E S E N T ’ s d e b r i e f i n g o n e . T he FU T U R E i s , i n
  • 306. 306 many cases a virtuoso, though it, at times, voyeurs the PRESENT. W ha t a h o r r e n d o u s v i c e ! Such deed will NEVER be tolerated. How do you REHAB the F U T U R E ? G r o u p t h e r a p y ? G r o u p in g i t w i t h w h o m , t h e “ c r o w d o f wisdom” folks? Rehabilitating it by which handy means? Like the c r o w d o f w i s d o m u s e d i n e x t r a o r d i n a r y d e m o c r a c ie s t o h a v e t h e constituency madly in love — from the instruments of democracy — to vote for a Communist president? The only CROWD OF WISDOM that works is that of the most s e l e c t e d o n e s , t h e o n e s t h a t a r e pa y i n g a t t e n t i o n , t h e o n e s t h a t a re pa y i n g e x p e n s i v e l y t o e n t e r t a i n t h e m o s t w o n d e r f u l t h o u g h t s , p la n s , a n d r o a d m a p s . T h e P R E S E N T i s s l e e p w a l k i n g w h i l e t h e F UT U R E i s “ c h i l d l i ke ” wondered by daydreaming promenades. In the mean time, the post- modern modernity is in a rush getting more and more modern by unprecedented “shock and awe” unearthed standards. T h i s c r i s s - c r o s s P R E S E N T w i l l b e r e c o n s t i t u t e d b y t h e c on t i n u a l l y c r i n k u m - c r a n k u m F U T U R E i n e v i t a b l y . [ 3 0] , [ 3 1 ] . T he r e i s g o i n g o n a t e r z e t t o i n w h i c h t h e h a p p e n i n g s a r e m o r e o r le s s l i k e t h i s : t h e P A S T ( R . I . P ) , t h e P R E S E N T ( t h é d an s a n t ) , a n d t h e F UT U R E
  • 307. 307 ( t er t i u m q u i d ) . [ 3 2 ] , [ 3 3 ] , [ 3 4 ] . C le a r l y , t h e P A S T i s g e t t i n g a f u l l y impeachable CPR by so-called “historians.” Earned in his own intellectual right, Thomas Jefferson most cogently stated: “I prefer the dreams of the FUTURE than h i s t o r y . ” J e f f e r s o n , o n h i s o w n r i g h t , f o r e te r n i t y k n e w t h a t t h e F U T U R E i s u n - m a n i p u la t e d f r o m t h a t u n d e r - p e r f o r m i n g v e n u e called “PRESENT.” Who would dare not to appreciate that genetics, biotechnology ( i n c lu d i n g b i o - i n f o r m a t i c s ) , n e u r o - t e c h n o l o g y ( i n c l u d i n g n e u r o - i n f o r m a t i c s ) , r o b o t i c s , i n f o r m a t i o n t e c h n o l o g y ( in c l u d i n g A r t i f ic i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e ─ i . e . A I ─ a n d I n t e l l i g e n c e A m p l i f ic a t i o n ─ i . e . AI ─ ) , n a n o t e c h n o l o g y , m a t e r i a l s c ie n c e t e c h n o l o g y , t e c h n o l o g y s t e m m i n g f r o m s c i e n c e o f c o m p l e x i t y w i t h t h e h o l i s t i c pe r s p e c t i v e o f a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e m a k i n g d e e p a n d s t e e p in r o a d s ? I n c i d e n ta l l y , t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e o m n i s c i e n c e p e r s p e c t i v e c a n b e revised at << http://bit.ly/c8zAeb >> as well. T h e P R E S E N T i s a f o r g e t f u l s a r d i n e w h i l e t h e F UT U R E i s a g i a n t c u t t l e f i s h i n c o n s p i r a c y w i t h a n o c t o p u s a n d a t w e n t y - f ou r e y e s jelly-fish.
  • 308. 308 Ying and Yang have combined forces of subtle and dramatic origin. These days the PRESENT is a bit like a pseudo-harmonized Ying- Yang relationship. The FUTURE is only about Yang deeds. The PRESENT is besieged by a bunch of dilettantes and poseurs. [ 3 9] . T h e F U T U R E i s — s o t o s p e a k — à l a S i r F r a n c i s D ra k e . T h e P R E S E N T i s m o r e l i k e Hu c k l e b e r r y F i n n w h i l e t h e FU T U R E i s pe r h a p s the archetype of Genghis Khan and his efficacious Mongols. The stream of as-of-now PRESENTS will become — to some extent — o n e o f t h e f o r t h c o m i n g FU T U R E S . A t s o m e p o i n t a h e a d , a PRESENT will be ultimately integrated into a single FUTURE seamlessly. Such a FUTURE, though, will reach a point in which being bio- b a s e d o r b i o - r e l a t e d o r n o t i n v iv o a t a l l w i l l b e s p l e n d i d l y a w a ke n and active. Regardless of transhumanity, overhumanity, superhumanity, nonhumanity and “above and beyond” humanity, the hard-core
  • 309. 309 essential is and will be not being human but becoming and acting humanely. The PRESENTS a re from appalling and contentious i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n V e n u s a n d M a r s . T he FU T U R E S a r e o n l y f r o m s t r i n g e n t M a r s . G o a n d a s k a b o u t i t D r . J o h n G r a y . [ 4 0] The FUTURES a re supervening upon the PRESENTS in c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h t h e r u t h l e s s f o rc e s p o s s e s s b y t h e o w n F U T U R E S . UT The PRESENT concerns the animal and vegetable kingdoms. These k i n g d o m s a r e s u b j e c t n o t t o t h r e e bu t f ou r e m p e r o r s , n a m e l y : liquid, solid, gas, and plasma. The FUTURE is only about beyond p o s t - h u ma n i t y and its s t a g g e r i n g b r u t e - f o r c e a n d d r a m a t i c a l l y - s u b t l e I NT E L L I G E N C E . The PRESENT pertains to pretending discovering science. The FUTURE is absolute s c ie n c e dominance and nearly if not t h o r o u g h l y i n f i n i t e p o w e r u n t i l t h e U n iv e r s e ’ s l a s t s a y. O n t h e i r o w n e a r n e d r i g h t s , t h e P R E S E N T a n d t h e F UT U R E a re d o g s a n d d a r l i n g s , r e s p e c t i v e l y.
  • 310. 310 T h e F U T U R E h a s , i n m a n y i n c e s s a n t a n d e f f ic a c i o u s l y wa y s , r e m i n d e d t h e p r e s e n t a b o u t t h e in s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f A m e r ic a ’ s primordial and indigenous civilizations. W h e n y ou t a k e t h e g l o r i o u s D a k o t a ’ s t r i b a l w i s d o m , y o u ’ l l b e a dv i s e d : W h e n e v e r y o u d i s c o v e r y o u ’ r e o n a d e a d h o r s e , t h e b e s t strategy is to dismount. T h e i n d i s p u t a b l e s c i e n t i f i c m a x i m g o e s , “ e v e r y t h i n g n o w w or k i n g ic i s o b s o l e t e ” ( u n f o r t u n a t e l y, in c lu d i n g t h e h u m a n b e i n g a n d t h e human mind pivoted upon the spine cord) and as a consequence is s u b j e c t t o a c tu a l p e r f e c t i b i l i t y f o r L i f e . A s y o u w i l l n e v e r r e a c h p e r f e c t i o n ( e v e n i f o v e r - p r a c t i c e m a ke s o v e r - p e r f e c t i o n ) , o n e ( a n d e v e r y t h i n g ) m u s t b e in c r e a s i n g l y b e upgraded forever. Can you now relate better to Dakota wisdom above? The PRESENT is always misled and misleading, treasuring a great promise of deceit. The FUTURE is eloquently transparent and c l e a r , c r i p p l i n g — i n a dv a n c e — v i o l a t o r s o f e t h i c s , m o r a l i t y , principles, integrity, and dignity.
  • 311. 311 T h e P R E S E N T h a s i t s e y e s g l u e d t o t h e i n s i d e - o u t s . T h e F UT U R E i s immensely into staring at its outside-ins. The PRESENT is a powerless hostage not interested in any honorable vindication at all. The PRESENT is sick and ailing because of: (a) its once-true believes, (b) its once-true assumptions, (c) its once-true conventions, (d) its never true misconceptions, (e) its once-true cosmos-vision (Weltanschauung), (f) its once-true systems of b e l i e f , ( g ) i t s o n c e - t r u e t r u i s m s , ( h) i t s o n c e - t r u e “ c o m m o n s e n s e , ” ( i ) i t s o n c e - t r u e “ g o o d l u c k, ” s o f o r t h . “T h e fu t u r e i s g o i n g t o g et i n v e n t ed , wi t h y o u o r wi t h ou t y o u . B u t i f y o u w a n t t o b u i ld t h e n e w , y o u mu s t f i r s t d i s m a n t l e y o u r e x i s t i n g b e li e f s y s t e m a n d b u r n f o r s c r a p a n y t h i n g t h at i s n o t e n d l e s s l y a n d u n i v e r s a l l y t r u e . ” [ 6 4] F r o m t h e h u m a n p o i n t o f v i e w , t h e s e c ha n g e d c h a n g e s w i l l b e a throwing away of all the previous maxims in a rather violent and abrupt way. The PRESENT is pseudo-architected and mobilized in tearing down achievement. The FUTURE is forever re-architecting itself while massively out-fostering breakthrough achievements.
  • 312. 312 Subsequently, the FUTURE will incessantly remain redefining the t o t a l i t y a n d t h e e n t i r e t y o f ( i) a l l a n d ( i i ) e v e r y t h i n g ( kn o w n , unknown, improbable, impossible, thinkable, unthinkable, concerning, and desirable within and outside the laws of physics, quantum mechanics, and other science of “exactness”). I now warmly welcome you, ladies and gentlemen, to “Futuretronium.” [ 3 6] S o m e s e r i o u s s c i e n t i s t s a re m a k in g t h e c a s e o f c o n q u e r i n g h u m a n s ’ i m m o r t a l i t y o r , a t l e a s t , s o m e t h o u s a n d ye a r s o f h e a l t h y l i v i n g i n t h e u pc o m i n g y e a r s . I n m a k i n g t h e i r c a s e , t h e y in s i s t t h a t w e a r e a l l m a d e o f a n e t e r n a l molecule known as DNA. You’d better believe on the doubles! They insist that the DNA molecule has been with us through b i l l i o n s o f y e a r s . Ra y Ku r z w e i l p r o c l a i m s t h a t “ b y t h e 2 0 3 0 s , t h e n o n b i o l o g i c a l p o r t i o n o f o u r in t e l l i g e n c e w i l l p r e d o m i n a t e ” [ 1 ] . G e t r e a d y t h e n ! L e t t h i s b r i e f pa r a g r a p h t o b e i n t r o d u c t o r y t o t h e o n e ensuing. What is the world to be, under scenarios, looking like t o w a r d s 2 02 5 ?
  • 313. 313 O n t h e t r e n d s t o 2 0 2 5 , s p e a k in g o f “ W h a t K i n d o f F u tu r e ? , ” N I C a r g u e s : “ T h e a b o v e t r e n d s su g g e s t m a j o r d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s , s h o c k s , “T a n d s u r p r i s e s , wh i c h w e h i g h l i g h t t h r ou g h o u t t h e t e xt . E x a m p l e s i n c l u d e n u c l e ar w e a p o n s u s e o r a p a n d e m i c . I n s o m e c a s e s , t h e s u r p r i s e e l e m e n t i s on l y a m a t t er o f t i m i n g: an en e r g y t r a n s i t i o n , f o r e x a m p l e i s i n e v i t a b l e ; t h e o n l y q u e s t i on s a r e w h en a n d h o w ab r u p t l y or smoothly su c h a t r an s i t i on occurs. An energy transition from one type of f u el (fossil fu e l s ) to a n o t h er ( a l t e r n a t i v e) i s a n e v e n t t h a t h i s t o r i c a l l y h a s o n l y h a p p e n ed on c e a c en t u r y at m o s t w i t h m o m e n t ou s c on s e q u en c e s . T h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m w o o d t o c o a l h e l p ed t r i g g e r i n d u s t r i a l i z at i o n . I n t h i s c a s e , a t r a n s i t i o n — p ar t i c u l ar l y a n ab r u p t o n e — ou t o f f o s s i l fu e l s w o u ld h a v e m a j o r r e p er c u s s i o n s f or e n er g y p r o d u c er s i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t a n d E u r a s i a , p o t en t i a l l y c au s i n g p e r m a n en t d ec l i n e o f s o m e s t at e s a s g l o b a l a n d r e g i o n a l p o w e r s . … O t h er d i sc o n t i n u i t i e s a r e l e s s p r e d i c t a b l e . T h e y a r e li k e l y t o r e s u l t f r o m a n i n t e r ac t i o n o f s e v e r a l t r e n d s a n d d e p en d o n t h e q u a l i t y o f l e ad e r s h i p . W e p u t u n c e r t ai n t i e s such as w h e t h er China or Russia b ec o m e s a d e m o c r ac y in this c at e g o r y . China’s growing middle class increases the chances but does not make such a development i n e v i t ab l e . P o l i t i c a l p l u r a l i s m s e e m s l e s s li k e l y i n R u s s i a i n t h e ab s e n c e o f ec o n o m i c d i v e r s i f i c a t i on . P r e s s u r e f r o m b e l o w m a y force the i s s u e, or a l e a d er mi g h t b e gi n or e n h an c e the
  • 314. 314 d e m o c r at i z a t i on p r o c e s s t o s u st a i n t h e ec o n o m y o r s p u r e c o n o m i c g r o wt h . A s u s t a i n e d p l u n g e i n t h e pr i c e o f o i l a n d g a s w o u l d a lt e r t h e o u t l o o k a n d i n c r e a s e pr o s p e c t s f or g r e a t er p o l i t i c a l a n d ec o n o m i c l i b e r a l i z a t i o n i n Ru s s i a . I f ei t h er c ou n t r y w e r e t o d e m o c r at i z e , i t w ou l d r e pr e s e n t a n ot h e r w a v e o f d e m o c r a t i z at i o n w i t h wi d e s i gn i f i c a n c e f o r m a n y o t h e r d e v e l o p i n g s t at e s . … A l s o u n c e r t ai n a r e t h e ou t c o m e s o f d e m o g r a p h i c c h a l l en g e s f a c i n g E u r o p e , J a p a n , a n d e v e n R u s s i a . I n n on e o f t h e s e c a s e s d o e s demography have to spell destiny with less regional and global power an i n e v i t ab l e outcome. Technology, the role of i m mi g r a t i o n , p u b l i c h e a l t h i m pr o v e m e n t s , a n d l a w s e n c ou r a g i n g g r e at e r f e m a l e p ar t i c i p at i o n i n t h e e c on o m y a r e s o m e o f t h e m e a s u r e s t h a t c o u l d c h a n g e t h e t r a j ec t o r y o f c u r r en t t r en d s p o i n t i n g t o w ar d l e s s e c on o m i c g r o w t h , i n c r e a s e d s o c i a l t e n s i o n s , a n d p o s s i b l e d ec l i n e. …W h et h e r g l o b a l i n st i t u t i o n s ad a p t a n d r e v i v e — a n o t h e r k e y u n c er t a i n t y — a l s o i s a f u n c t i o n o f l e ad e r s h i p . C u r r e n t t r e n d s su g g e s t a d i s p er s i o n o f p o w e r a n d a u t h o r i t y w i ll c r e a t e a g l o b a l g o v e r n an c e d e f i c i t . R e v e r s i n g t h o s e t r en d l i n e s w o u l d r e q u i r e st r o n g l e ad e r s h i p i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y b y a n u m b e r o f p o w e r s , i n c lu d i n g t h e e m e r g i n g on e s … . S o m e u n c e r t ai n t i e s would have gr e a t e r c on s e q u en c e s — s h o u ld they oc c u r — t h a n w o u l d o t h e r s . I n t h i s w o r k , w e e m p h a s i z e t h e o v e r a l l p ot e n t i a l f o r gr e a t e r c o n f li c t — s o m e f or m s o f wh i c h c ou l d t h r e a t e n g l o b a l i z a t i o n . W e p u t W M D t er r o r i s m an d a M i d d l e E a s t n u c l e a r
  • 315. 315 a r m s r a c e i n t h i s c a t e g o r y . T h e k e y u n c e r t ai n t i e s a n d p o s s i b l e i mp a c t s a r e d i sc u s s e d i n t h e t e x t a n d s u m m a r i z ed i n t h e t e x t b o x on page vii. In the four f i c t i o n a li z e d s c e n ar i o s , we have h i g h l i g h t e d n e w c h a l l e n g e s t h a t c o u ld e m er g e a s a r e s u l t o f t h e o n g o i n g g l ob a l t r a n s f o r m at i o n . T h e y pr e s e n t n e w s i t u a t i o n s , d i l e m m a s , or p r e d i c a m e n t s t h a t r e pr e s e n t d e p a r t u r e s f r o m r ec e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s . A s a s e t , t h e y d o n ot c o v e r a l l p o s s i b l e fu t u r e s . N o n e o f t h e s e i s i n e v i t ab l e o r e v e n n e c e s s a r i l y l i k e l y ; b u t , a s w i t h m a n y ot h e r u n c e r t a i n t i e s , t h e s c en a r i o s a r e p o t e n t i a l g a m e - changers.” [144] Futuretronium will ultimately and inexorably transform into Computronium [35], [36], a technocratic, adhocratic, stratocratic, p lu t o c r a t i c e m p i r e t h o r o u g h l y i m m e r s e d i n t h e o v e r b e a r i n g l y qualities: techie, nerdy, brainy, geekish, whose subject matter is t h e d e s i g n a t e d o u t p u t o f : ( a ) h u m a n s , ( b) e n h a n c e d h u m a n s , ( c ) p s e u d o - h u m a n s , ( d ) p o s t - h u m a n s , ( e ) s u p e r - h u m a n s ( ov e r - m e n ) , ( f ) b i o n i c a l s , ( g) s u pe r h u m a n l y i n t e l l i g e n t b e i n g s , ( h ) r o b o t s , ( i ) hybrids, (j) trans-humans, ( k) post-biologicals, and (l) a combination of all of the priors. While the PRESENT vastly underestimates the influence of the p r e s e n t - d a y I n t e r n e t , t h e F UT U R E w i l l c a p t u r e e v e r y k n o w n a n d unknown force to crown itself into ruthless Computronium. [84]
  • 316. 316 T h i s R o y a l i s n o t s i l l y d i g n i t a r y a s o n e w i l l s e e h i m o u t - c o m pu t e t h e e n t i r e t y o f t h e U n i v e r s e ( a n d M u l t i v e r s e , t h e U n iv e r s e ’ s f i r s t - and-foremost father). I n t h e n e a r F U T U R E ’ s ( i n t h e z i l l i o n f l o w s b e t w e e n Fu t u r e t r o n i u m , the adolescent, and Computronium, the adult), your dreams, fantasies, and nightmares will all be literally out-dreamed and/or o u t - d a y d r e a m e d a n d/ o r o u t - s m a r t e d a n d / o r o u t - s h i n n e d a n d / o r out-foretold by a factor of zillion orders of magnitude. The FUTURE is bathed, as the PRESENT has already been carefully h i n t e d , w i t h a r t i f a c t s t h a t a s a w h o l e a re p e r v a s i v e l y a w a k e n e d . T h e s e F U T U R E S a re b e y o n d b o u n d a r y - l e s s - n e s s . The FUTURE is for eternity unfolding before most people’s absent- m i n d e d e y e s , i n d e p e n d e n t l y if t h o s e e ye s a r e a p p e n d e d o r n o t t o s o - c a l l e d “ p r e p a r e d m i n d s . ” T h e m y o p i a i s w i t h i n t h e m i n d n o t in the corneas. T h e P R E S E N T i s m o s t l y a b o u t h a r d w a r e ( p a l pa b l y t a n g i b l e s ) . T h e FUTURE is greatly about software (palpably and not, intangibles w i t h c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d s e q u e l s b o t h i n t h e p h y s i c a l a n d v iv i d virtual worlds).
  • 317. 317 T h e h a r d w a r e e ra , e v e r - c h a n g i n g a n d a d a p t i n g , i s g i v i n g w a y t o t h e s o f t w a r e e ra . W i l l n e x t g e n e r a t i o n m a n - m a d e s o f t w a r e u s e t h e U n i v e r s e a s a m a x i mu m mu l t i - s u p e r c o m p u t e r h a r d w a r e ? This colossal eons-streaming Era, regardless of time locus, is c o n s t a n t l y u n d e r r u t h l e s s r u l i n g b y t h e FU T U R E . If you're not remembering the FUTURE is only because you are ignoring every lesson by the PAST and PRESENT, both a PAST and a PRESENT, in my view, designated by the express mandates and designs of the FUTURE. V e s t y o u r i n t e r e s t i n t h e F U T U R E s i n c e p la n t i n g y o u r h o p e s i n p r e t e r i t t i m e s w i l l s u c c e e d in t o f a i l u r e w i t h o u t a f a i l . The PRESENT makes a great number of mistakes once, twice, thrice and beyond that without learning a single lesson from even the most recent and gravest mistakes. T h e F U T U R E i s i n t o e x t r a c t i n g t h e c r i t i c a l le s s o n s l e a r n e d l a v i s h l y a n d a b u s i v e l y i g n o r e d i n t h e pa s t a n d p r e s e n t .
  • 318. 318 W h e t h e r o r n o t y o u ’ r e s e e k i n g a r i v a l a n d i f t h e F UT U R E i s n o t c o n s c i e n t i o u s l y c o n c e i v e d , d e s i g n e d , d e v e l o p a n d c re a t e d , t h e FUTURES will become your most formidable adversaries. In unnoticeable yet transformational movement is what the FUTURE’s status quo has become, a status quo that is pervasively fluid and impermanent in pe r p e t u i t y . On the contrary, the PRESENT’s status quo is erratic, timid, disorganized, idiotic and consequently banal. W h i l e t h e F U T U R E i s m a r k e d l y c o n c e n t r a t e d a n d f oc u s e d o n e v e r y matter in which it has a vested interest, the PRESENT is over- f ra g m e n t e d — g r e a t l y B a l k a n i z e d —, t h u s la c k i n g a t t e n t i o n a n d excessive in dilution of results. I n d e a l i n g w i t h o u r s y s t e m s o f b e l ie f s , s t r o n g l y h e l d a s s u m p t i o n s , c o n v e n t i o n s a n d c o s m o s v i s i o n ( W e l t a n s c h a u u n g ) , t h e FU T U R E , i n t o w a l k i n g h a b i t u a l l y g r e a t le n g t h s , a s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e P R E S E N T i s a t h i n g o f t h e pa s t a n d t h e p a s t i s a t h i n g f u r t h e r b a c k t o t h e primordial big bang. QUESTION: WHY DON’T WE MAKE OF THE FUTURE A THING OF THE PAST?
  • 319. 319 The FUTURE is not in hot pursuit of the PRESENT. The PRESENT represents one f lu i d expression by the ever-more autocratic unstoppable rulings by demanded the FUTURE. Y e t w e h a v e n o w a g r e a t l i k e l i h o o d t o m a k e t h e m o s t in t e l l i g e n t decision to lowering the downsides and upping and upgrading the upsides. The FUTURE is accustomed and indifferent to the PRESENT’s most self-valued quality, its quality of distraction. T h e P R E S E N T i s a l a g g a r d . T h e FU T U R E i s a n o u t - d o e r b e y o n d t h e influence spheres of execution. Here execution only equates to execution of and through relevance, not taking it said execution to t h e “ e x t r a m i l e ” bu t t o t h e “ e x t r a l e a g u e . ” A le a g u e i s a b o u t t h r e e miles. T h e F U T U R E i s a c o m p o s i t e v e c t o r in r e v e r s a l t o t h e P R E S E N T a n d back forth to the times to come. T h e P R E S E N T i s , a t a l l t i m e s , t a k in g a f o r t y - w i n k s i e s t a a s i t d r e a m s o f s t e a l i n g c re d i t s a n d g l o r i e s f r o m h i s c ou n t r y m e n . T h e FUTURE — under its own ways, modes and rulings — is relentless rendering time progressively nonexistent.
  • 320. 320 The FUTURE is, in every occasion, making the PRESENT déclassé and hence démodé. [45], [46]. The FUTURE spies on the PRESENT comprehensively. The P R E S E N T ’ s c o u n t e r - s p y i n g a t t e m p t s o n a n d t o w a r d s t h e FU T U R E a re l e s s t h a n p r i m i t i v e a n d m o r e t h a n e n t i r e l y l u d i c r o u s . When the FUTURE wishes to blend in with the PRESENT, said PRESENT shocks. With the progression and retrogression of “time,” the postmodern modernity is becoming more and more “modern” by unprecedented “shock and awe” standards. T h e P R E S E N T i s s l e e p w a l k i n g w h i l e t h e F UT U R E i s d a y d r e a m i n g like a savant’s child wondering around MIT, Caltech and NASA. The PRESENT is the pe r f e c t personification of an a c c o m m o d a t i o n i s t w h i l e t h e F UT U R E i s t h e m o s t r o b u s t b e l i e v e r (thoroughly faithful and without rudimentary, slowing-down psychological complexes) on his deeds and own existential existence.
  • 321. 321 To get underneath the FUTURE's skin is the only path to understanding the ever-revolutionizing nature of changed changes. I f y o u w i s h t o e n g e n d e r l u c r a t i v e c h a n g e , y ou n e e d t o b r i n g about contradictions and paradoxes to make friends with u n f a m i l i a r i t y . S u b s e q u en t l y , J o h n N a i s b i t t p u t s i t : “ Y o u j u s t have to hang out wi t h the p ar a d o x e s , h an g ou t with the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s u n t i l y o u u n d e r st a n d t h e m . W h en t h er e i s a p er c ei v e d c o n t r a d i c t i o n , I li k e t o l o o k f o r s o m e t h i n g t h at h e l p s t o r e s o l v e t h e c on t r a d i c t i o n . A l o t o f p e o p l e h a v e a n e i t h e r / or m en t a l i t y . We g et the I n t er n e t and everyone says, ‘Well n e w s p a p e r s a r e g o i n g t o g o a w a y . ’ I t ’ s n o t e i t h e r / or . T h er e w i l l b e a c h a n g e i n t h e m i x , t h at ’ s a l l . ” In the same order of ideas, Hamel indicates: “Look for dis- c o n f i r m i n g e v i d en c e, f or t h i n g s t h a t d o n ’t fi t , f o r t h i n g s t h at d o n ’ t a j ar . ” [ 6 4] Many, many times Dr. Stephen Hawking has indicated that studying the outer space is not indispensable but not study it is “ f o o l i s h . ” He n c e , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r o n e n o t t o s t u d y a b o u t c o s m o l o g y w i t h o u t b e i n g g r e a t l y i m m e r s e d i n f u tu r e s t u d i e s . I f y o u c a n u n d e r s t a n d t h e c u r r e n t f lu x o f m a s s i v e i m pa c t s b y c ha n g e d c ha n g e , y o u n e e d t o g i v e y o u a u t h o r i z a t i o n t o u n d e r s t a n d t h i s complex theme. [67]
  • 322. 322 I n t h i s a c c o u n t , D r . S t e p h e n H a w k i n g i s i n pe r f e c t a l i g n m e n t w i t h P r e s i d e n t J o h n F . K e n n e d y . “W e s e t s a i l on t h i s n e w s e a b e c a u s e there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no c o n s c i en c e o f i t s o wn . W h e t h er i t w i l l b ec o m e a f o r c e f o r g o o d o r i l l d ep e n d s on m a n , a n d o n l y i f t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s oc c u p i e s a p o s i t i o n o f p r e - e m i n en c e c an w e h e lp d e c i d e w h e t h e r t h i s n e w oc e a n w i l l b e a s e a o f p e ac e o r a n e w t e r r i f y i n g t h e at e r o f w ar . I d o n o t s a y t h e w e s h o u l d or w i l l g o u n pr o t ec t e d a g a i n s t t h e h o s t i l e m i s u s e o f s p a c e a n y m or e t h a n w e g o u n pr o t e c t e d a g a i n s t t h e h o s t i l e u s e o f l an d o r s e a , b u t I d o s a y t h a t s p a c e c an b e e x p l o r ed a n d m a s t e r ed w i t h o u t f e ed i n g t h e fi r e s o f w a r , wi t h ou t r e p e a t i n g t h e m i s t a k e s t h at m a n h a s m ad e i n e x t en d i n g h i s wr i t a r ou n d t h i s g l o b e o f ou r s . ” [ 80 ] In consequence, practice the tradition of actionable mindful m e n ta l i t y — i n e v e r y t h e a t e r o f o p e r a t i o n s — w i t h o u t t h e d r a g g i n g hold-backs by so-called traditions. Learn a difficult lesson easily and immediately by Thomas J e f f e r s o n : “ I p r e f e r t h e st o r i e s o f t h e fu t u r e t h a n h i s t o r y . ”
  • 323. 323 I n m a t t e r s o f a c tu a l c h a l le n g i n g o n e ’ s o w n i n t e l l e c t , a n y “ t o o much” effort to this end is evermore “too little.” We must, wherefore, strive exponentially and creatively forever to capture now the best (optimum) from the ever-forthcoming F U T U R E S . S t r i v i n g w i t h o u t t h e m a x i m e f f o r t i n t a k in g p o s s e s s i o n o f a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e c o u p le d w i t h u n iv e r s a l m o r a l i t y a n d e t h i c s will render absolutely worthless. T h e P R E S E N T i s c o n c a v e w h e r e a s t h e F UT U R E i s c o n v e x , v e x in g l y c o n v e x a s a B i g B a n g ’ s c a tc h - a s - c a t c h - c a n . T h e P R E S E N T i s t h e f re n z y o f i r r e l e v a n c e a n d t h e F U T U R E i s t h e e v e r l a s t i n g l y - i n c r e a s i n g c l i m a x o f t h e c r i t i c a l m a s s t h a t c a t a pu l t s civilization into unknown unknowns. T h e P R E S E N T s e e m s t o b e i n t o “ m o r i b u n d ” m o d e a s t h e F UT U R E i s redefining its always-unfolding birth. Birth is death in reversal and consequently death is birth in reversal. T h e P R E S E N T t e r g i v e r s a t e s i t s e l f . T h e F UT U R E , o u t o f a d o m i c i l e located in the PRESENT, is hugely tergiversated by la r g e majorities.
  • 324. 324 T h e F U T U R E i s w i t h i n a s u b t e r f u g e a n d m u s t b e l u c i d l y u n v e i l e d if you want to make your life prosper. T h e P R E S E N T i s n o t d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d t o t h e F UT U R E . T h e F U T U R E i s j u s t d i a m e t r i c a l l y d if f e r e n t . W ha t a r e y o u g o i n g t o i n t h e P R E S E N T b e f o r e t h e “ f ie r c e u r g e n c y o f n o w ” F U T U R E a n d i t s i g n o r e d ( w h e t h e r e x i s t e n t i a l l y lu c r a t i v e o r n o t ) wa k i n g - u p c a l l s ? I d o n ’ t k n o w a b o u t t h e P R E S E N T a n d i t s q u a l i t y b e i n g la i s s e z - f a i r e . T h e F U T U R E d o e s i t s in t e l l e c t u a l l y h a r d w o r k i n g r e n d e r i n g e m o t i o n s u s e l e s s . T h i s b o h e m i a n P R E S E N T ye t a n u n - s a l v a g e a b l e o n e s e l f - p r o p e l l e d i n t o c r a s s s t u p i d i t y t i l l FU T U R E ’ s la s t c a l l i n g . T h e P R E S E N T s y s t e m a t i c a l l y f a i l s t o c r a c k t h e FU T U R E ’ s c o d e s . I t seems that the PRESENT is irremediably stubborn by genetic design, genetic design of four billion years old. W h e n t h e P R E S E N T r e a d s in d i v i d u a l a u t o b i o g r a p h i e s b y t h e P A S T a l o u d , a c l e a r p i c t u r e o f t h e c a s e f o r c h a n g e e me r g e s a n d a s t i l l - fuzzy vision of the FUTURE started to show through.
  • 325. 325 T h e P R E S E N T i s c on c e n t r a t e d o n f o l l o w i n g u p o n t h e P A S T ’ s attempts to decipher the FUTURE. In the process, the PRESENT s e c u r e s i t s p r e pa r a t i o n s t o m e e t t h e F UT U R E w o r t h l e s s . The FUTURE — while being savvy and rigorous into exercising its own far-sight and foresight — operates heretofore. Are we located in the PRESENT really thinking about shaping the FUTURE or rather is the FUTURE shaping us beyond our limited comprehension? Under the “least worst” scenario, the PRESENT is being shockingly reminded that the world continues to flow at warp speed. B u t g i v i n g t h e y o u n g e s t a n d n e we s t P R E S E N T S a c e n t r a l r o l e i n plotting Computronium’s forthcoming c ou r s e not only keeps Futuretronium supplied with ideas at the cutting-edge but also c re a t e s a c on t e x t i n w h i c h l e t t i n g g o o f t h e P A S T a n d r e a c h i n g o u t for a new FUTURE is the only unimpeachable norm. The PRESENT is a rattlesnake while the FUTURE is a python, a p y t h o n o f t h e e n o r m i t y s u c k in g p o w e r p o s e d b y a s o - c a l l e d “ B la c k Hole.”
  • 326. 326 The FUTURE never becomes tainted by yesterday beliefs, assumptions and c on v e n t i o n s when further thinking about a dv a n c i n g t h e m o r r o w . A . I . ( A r t i f i c i a l I n te l l i g e n c e ) i s i m p o r t a n t . B u t n o w i t ’ s m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h e m o s t p e rv a s i v e a m p l if i c a t i o n o f t h e h u m a n m i n d v ia biological media only so that we can conceive and develop our own F U T U R E S a n d t h o s e i n c u m b e n t t o t h e p e o p l e we c a re f o r ! I n d e c i p h e r i n g ( de - e n c r y p t i n g ) t h e F UT U R E n o w a n d ma k i n g t h e P R E S E N T a “ t h i n g o f t h e P A S T , ” o n e m u s t le a r n a n e a s y l e s s o n : Post-mortem analyzes are indispensable. Yet pre-mortem analyzes ( e s p e c i a l l y t h e q u a l i t a t i v e l y d r i v e n o n e s ) a re b e y o n d g r a n d i o s e . I n o r d e r t o i n s t i t u t e t h e la t t e r y o u mu s t i n q u i s i t i v e l y l e a r n t o d i s c e r n , think, heed, ponder, scale and become furiously and industriously mobilized without losing composure, civility, and harmony. CHAPTER 5 RELEVANT COMMENTARIES TO CLARIFY HIDEOUS MISUNDERSTANDINGS (UNDER SYSTEMATIC COMMISSION) BY MAGNIFICENT PEOPLE
  • 327. 327 # 1. - N o s u c c e s s , B U T N O W t h e a c c u m u la t i o n o f d o c u m e n t e d , a s s i m i l a t e d a n d r u n - a b l e , a s w e l l a s m o t o r i z e d le s s o n s l e a r n e d b y y o u a n d o u t o f y o u r o w n a n d e s pe c i a l l y t h o s e a c q u i r e d b y o t h e r s ' w i s d o m . T ha t i s , e v e r y o n e d o e s h i s / h e r o w n r e l e v a n t a n d irrelevant things, as well as everyone does his / her own c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s s t e m m i n g f r o m s a i d r e le v a n t and irrelevant things. Sequels and consequences are mostly static, b u t s u b - s e q u e n c e s t h a t a r e b e y o n d k in e t i c , b o t h i n t h e d o w n S I D E S and UPsides. # 2. - N o s t r a t e g i e s , B U T N O W c o m p o s i t e s t r a t a g e m s . S t r a t a g e m s do not ever make the case, nor the merits, for you to violate timeless morality, principles and ethics. It’s driven by limitless-ly practical knowledge to prevent and solve problems. Any growth in every field of knowledge and serious discipline, as any growth in s k i l l s a n d i n s i g h t s a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s , i s f u t i l e a n d d a n g e r o u s if i t i s n o t e n g e n d e r e d a n d c o u p le d b y a M O R A L I T Y G R O W T H . # 3 . - N o f a i t h i n l u c k , B UT N O W a m p le i n s t i t u t i n g o f a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e . “ L u c k y s t r i k e s ” a re m a t t e r s o f pe r s i s t e n t l y r i g o r o u s — a n d h i g h l y r e s p e c t e d — r o c k e t s c ie n t i s t s , l i t e r a l l y . P r a c t i t i o n e r s with the utmost pe r s e v e r a n c e , guided by supreme empirical k n o w l e d g e , a r e g r a n t e d V i c t o r y . R e m e m b e r t h e DA R P A ’ s a d a g e : “ I f y o u ’ r e n o t f ai l i n g f r e q u e n t l y , y o u ’ r e n ot s u c c e ed i n g e n o u g h . ”
  • 328. 328 I t ' s o p p o r t u n e t o m e n t i o n t h a t t h e h a r d e s t i t ' s t o “ s u c c e e d , ” s a y, in “markets” of maximum uncertainties, as two things will happen. First, the general entrepreneurial climate will be more and more defying (as per new “normals” and new “ab-normals”). Second, your colleagues will make ever-largest efforts to compete “against” you for the same, say, professional service contracts you're seeking. In matter-of-fact talking, your colleague becomes your rival, never your enemy. More “space” for thriving is there in p la c e w h e n y o u s e l f - e d u c a t e y o u r s e l f s e r i o u s l y . U n d e r t h e h i g h e s t a n a l y s i s a n d in a c tu a l i t y , y ou r w o r s t “ s w o r n o u t ” enemy is the one living by mediocrity and ignorance. Those mobilizing mediocrity and ignorance will eternally recur to v i o l a t i o n s o f e t h i c s , m o r a l i t y a n d p r i n c i p l e . T h e y ’ r e in s i d i o u s c o n t r a r i a n s t o t h e Ru l e o f L a w a n d R i g o r J u r i s , a s t h e y w i s h f o r t h e human race to be declared in Rigor Mortis. # 4 . - N o “ c o m m o n s e n s e ” o f a n t i q u i t y , B UT N O W p r o f o u n d a n d thorough, judicious and conscientious judgment and updated, e x p e d i e n t a n d e x pe r i e n c e d d i s c e r n m e n t , a d a p t a b l e , r e - a d a p t a b l e a n d u p g r a d e a b l e i n r e a l t i m e f o r e v e r . L e t ’ s g e t r e a l ; t h e o n l y wa y to operate is (i) cross-functional, (ii) multidimensional and (iii)
  • 329. 329 p lu r i - c o n t e x tu a l — ( i ) , ( i i ) a n d ( i i i ) s u b j e c t e d t o a p l e t h o r a o f mind’s filters — and to state it mildly, briefly and overly s i m p l i s t i c . T h e r e f o r e : ( i ) , ( i i ) a n d ( i i i) a b o v e a r e e x e c u t e d a t t h e same time (i.e. simultaneously). Ignoramuses of supine ignorance will insist on short-cutting august bodies of knowledge without knowing the operational consequences, sequels, and sub- sequences. T h e y d o n ' t u n de r s t a n d a n d w i l l n e v e r u n d e r s t a n d t h e p o n t i f ic a t e d m a x i m , “ e v e r y t h i n g i s r e la t e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” An d t o m a k e matters worse, they will deploy and enforce universal and devastating imprudence, imprudence, imprudence and more i m p r u d e n c e . T ha t i m p r u d e n c e s o r e a d i l y a c t i v a t e d b y t h e b a s e n e s s - concentrated “practitioner”. When invoking “Everything is related t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e , ” i t i s s u c c i n c t l y t o s a y ( t h a t i s ) b y wa y o f matter-of-fact example: “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er r e l at e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s c o n n ec t ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er c on n e c t e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “Everything is intricate to everything else.” “Everything is involved in everything else.” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - a s s o c i at e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er l o c k ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ”
  • 330. 330 “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - c o u p l ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - j o i n ed t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “Everything is conjoint to everything else.” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er - t i ed t o e v er y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er d e p en d en t t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s c o r r e l at e d t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er t w i n e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er m e s h e d wi t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i mp l i c at e d i n e v er y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s en t a n g l ed w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s en t w i n e d wi t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s t an g l e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s k n o t t ed w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s i n t er w o v e n i n t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s en g a g e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g c o - d ep e n d s on e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” “ E v e r y t h i n g i s p ar e n t h e t i c a l t o e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . ” S o m e m a n a g e r s a n d b u s i n e s s p ra c t i t i o n e r s a re s t i l l p la n t e d i n t h e 8 0 ’ s a n d 9 0 ’ s i n t a c t . S e e m i n g l y , a s pe r t h e m , t i m e i s f ix e d . Subsequently, they keep stubbornly talking about “re-engineering.” Are they informed of the Information Technology Revolution? In t h i s e o n , y o u c o n c e i v e , d e v e l o p a n d c re a t e y o u o w n f u tu r e . Y o u d o n ’ t u se o r g a n i z a t i o n a l “ B a n d - A i d s , ” D o y o u ? E v e n b a c k i n t h o s e
  • 331. 331 days, Wasn’t re-engineering needing then and now some dramatic overhauling? Sufficient tsunamis of imprudence to incontrovertibly declare a war to a s u pe r p o w e r u n de r unprecedented u n - p r e pa r e d n e s s , f u r t h e r i m p e r i l i n g t h e v ia b i l i t y o f t h i s p la n e t . T he e x p e r t s i n conflict avoidance and conflict negotiation of the Law School at the University of Harvard are most sought around the world. They m a d e t o n s o f pu b l i c a t i o n s a n d y o u s e e t h e e n t r e p r e n e u r “ c a l l i n g n a m e s ” t o t h e le a d ( c a n d i d a t e ) t h a t i s p o t e n t i a l l y b e c o m i n g h i s / her corporate customer. T h e O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y d e f i n e s “ p r u d e n t ” : “( O f p e r s o n or c on d u c t ) c a r e f u l t o a v o i d u n d e s i r e d c o n s e q u en c e s ; c i r c u m s p e c t ; d i sc r e et . ” R e g a r d l e s s , a n d u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r a m pa g e o f s y s t e m a t i c v i o l a t i o n o f p ru d e n c e w i l l b e c a r r i e d o n b y b o t h g e n d e r s w i t h o u t a f a i l . QUESTION: Are they seeking a medical appointment with Dr. Jack Kevorkian, MD? A Renaissance man on ethics and morality? L e o n a r d o D a V i n c i ( a t t r i b u t e d t o ) : “ T h at wh o d o e sn ’ t pu n i s h e v i l f ac i l i t a t e s i t . ”
  • 332. 332 The good aspect about ignoramuses (also known as simpleton) is t h a t t h e y w i l l u n e qu i v o c a l l y m a k e c e r t a i n t h a t t h o r n y i s s u e s b r a n c h out into greater imprudence. A s s o m e t i m e s t h e r e a re e r r o r s o f j u d g m e n t a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n about a patient’s diagnostics, these same errors are happening all the time in the finest organizations (I mean all types of o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g pu b l i c a n d N G O o n e s ) . T o w o r s e n m a t t e r s further, the judicious and expedient discernment of the driving forces that interconnect this flowing present with divergent futures is an immense effort. T ha t effort e n ta i l s that e x pe r i e n c e and expertise are simultaneously using every science, every art, every practice, every d i s c i p l i n e s o t h a t i s p u t t o w o r k in u n p r e c e d e n t e d wa y s t o a v o i d s t r a t e g i c s u r p r i s e s t h a t a l w a y s d e m e a n o r o u r qu a l i t y o f l if e w h i l e upgrades the potential disruption through a plethora of existential t h r e a t s t h a t w e m u s t m i c r o - a n d m a c r o - m a n a g e i n a dv a n c e a n d cleverly. If we keep our mind hypnotized but the idiotic waves and not but the currents underneath, having our sensory capabilities “plugged” to distractions of music and video and un-transcendental “chit
  • 333. 333 c ha t , ” w e a r e s e t o u t t o i g n o r e i s s u e s . A n d w h e n w e i g n o r e i s s u e s , w e a r e b e g g i n g f o r e p i c p r o b l e m s . Un f o r t u n a t e l y , w e g e t t o o g o o d at invoking disgraces upon ourselves, Aren’t we? I t’ s more entertaining and more fun to get advantageous results for the self out of ex nihilo, Isn’t it? A lv i n T o f f l e r d e d i c a t e s a t h o u g h t t o i m p r u d e n c e m a s t e r m i n d s : “I n t h e w o r l d o f t h e f u t u r e , t h e n e w i l l i t e r a t e w i ll b e t h e p e r s o n w h o h a s n ot l e a r n e d t o l e a r n . ” [ 7 3] I n m o s t a d v a n c e d r i s k m a n a g e m e n t a p p l ic a t i o n , w e m u s t a l w a y s assess the potential disruption capitalized in incidents and d i s r u p t i o n s b y t h e s o - c a l l e d h u m a n f a c t o r . S o m e pe o p l e s p e a k f re e l y a n d e v e n p o n t i f i c a t e a b o u t h o w t o a c c o m p l i s h a g o o d interpersonal style. Then you note that person is not getting alone with a diversity of people. But how, in Heavens, do you expect someone to have a good relationship with someone else if he or she h a s a p e r m a n e n t c a t a s t r o p h i c r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e o w n s e lf ? I m p r u d e n t p e o p l e — t h e r e a r e t o o ma n y o n e s t o t h e d i s f a v o r t o t h e h u m a n r a c e — a re i n c e s s a n t l y a n d i n d e f a t i g a b l y i n a s c e r t a i n i n g a n O l y m p i a n e f f o r t t o r e i n f o r c e t h e T i t a n ic ’ s d i l i g e n c e i n s e a r c h i n g o f a n i c e b e r g . Y o u c a n n o t g o t o a n e w p l a c e w i t h a n o l d m a p. A n d t h e p la c e i s c ha n g i n g i n R E A L - T I M E F O R E V E R , I ma g i n e t h e m a p ?
  • 334. 334 Some of these imprudent ones are set out to keep insisting on g e t t i n g a m e d i c a l c on s u l t a t i o n a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h h o n o r a b l e D r . Jack Kevorkian, M.D. Any physician will give those some words of wisdom and correction. In speaking about knowledge and ignorance, President John F. Kennedy’s speech on September 12, 1962 at Race University: “We m e et a t a c o l l e g e n ot e d f or k n o w l ed g e , i n a c i t y n o t e d f o r p r o g r e s s , i n a S t at e n ot e d f or s t r en g t h , a n d w e s t a n d i n n e e d o f a l l t h r e e , f o r w e m e e t i n an h o u r o f c h a n g e a n d c h a l l e n g e , i n a d e c ad e o f h o p e a n d f e ar , i n a n a g e o f b ot h k n o w l ed g e a n d i gn o r a n c e . T h e g r e at e r o u r k n o w l e d g e i n c r e a s e s , t h e g r e at e r o u r i gn o r a n c e u n f o l d s . ” [ 80 ] O n e c a n b e w i s e e v e n n ot k n o w i n g ? A U . S . A i r F o r c e C o l o n e l w h o u s e d t o r e pe a t i t f r e qu e n t l y : “ I t ' s b e t t e r t o r e m a i n s i l en t a n d b e t h ou g h t a f o o l t h a t o p e n y o u r m o u t h an d r e m o v e an y d o u b t . ” There are many things I like about General David Petraeus (at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Petraeus). One is that he is u t t e r l y p r u d e n t , c i v i l a n d c ou r t e o u s . I l i k e h e k n o w s w e l l h o w a n d
  • 335. 335 when and for how long to exercise his utmost toughness. Don't get me wrong, he will assail Attila and the Huns if his Commander and C h i e f ( C . i n C . ) w a r r a n t s i t . An d t o a n o p t i m u m d e g r e e . B u t t h i s G e n e ra l o f f i c e r i s t h e t y p e o f s t a t e s m a n t h a t i s a l w a y s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e n e w s c o r p s in c o r r e c t i o n a n d k i n d n e s s t o c i t e a b r i e f e x a m p l e . H e w o u l d e v e n t a k e t h e Q . A. s e s s i o n s f r o m a n y m e d i a s t u n t a n d i m m e d i a t e l y e l i c i t : ( 1) “ T h i s I c a n in f o r m t h i s m e d i a a b o u t , ” a n d ( 2) “ B e c a u s e o f l e g a l a n d / o r s t r a t e g i c r e a s o n s , This I cannot inform this media about.” H e g o e s o u t o n o f f i c i a l c o m m i s s i o n i n g m e e t i n g a p le t h o r a o f d i v e r s e pe o p l e , r e s p e c t i n g a n d h o n o r i n g e v e n t h o s e o n e s w h o might be in an antagonistic position with that represented by him, G e n e r a l P e t r a e u s . He ' s g o t t h e s u p e r b ( qu a l i t a t i v e ) a n a l y t i c s capabilities, the know-how, an immense ability to go from abstract t h i n k i n g t h r o u g h a n d t o s p e c if i c m i l e s t o n e s c o n qu e r i n g . I d o n ' t h e a r h i m “ y e l l i n g , ” b u t s p e a k i n g “ e v e n l y ” a n d n ic e l y a n d y e t u n a m b i g u o u s l y . H i s e m o t i o n a l s t a b i l i t y i s u n b e a t a b l e . He ' s a gentleman and treats everyone as a lady or gentleman. You see, he d o e s n o t l i k e a t a l l a n y c a s u a l t i e s ( in n o s i d e ) . H e k n o w s b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e e l s e t h e i r r e pa r a b l e c o s t o f b l o o d w a s t e d . He s a v e s h i s a m m o a n d h i s b e s t t o o l s a re h i s g e s t u r e s a n d c r y s t a l - c l e a r t h o u g h t s
  • 336. 336 and communication. He is not in t o demolition B UT INTO MAGNIFICENTLY BUILDING. N o w c he c k t h e l a w y e r s h o l d i n g p u b l i c o f f i c e a t D i p l o m a t i c C o r p s anywhere in the world, making immutable threats from A to Z w i t h o u t m e a s u r i n g t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d f r o m a d i s t a n t p la c e ( a bit too hygienic) using said “blood” as “wild-card” arguments to s u s t a i n t h e t e n u r e a n d p e r k s o f t h e i r p u b l i c o f f ic e h o l d i n g . D i p l o m a t i c c o r p s s h o u l d b e e m b e d d e d i n s o m e m i l i t a r y pa t r o l s i n Afghanistan to get feel of thousands of “projectiles” fired at them and to shut up their mouth for good. Diplomacy and peace? W ha t d o e s A m b r o s e B i e r c e h a v e t o s a y a b o u t pe a c e : “ [ P e a c e i s , ] i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s , a pe r i o d o f c h e a t i n g b e t w e e n t w o p e r i o d s o f fighting.” [130] Do they hear to the subject of the Queen who is also an American pa t r i o t ? W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l a r g u e s in t h i s r e g a r d : “ I f t h e h u m a n r ac e w i s h e s t o h a v e a p r o l o n g e d a n d i n d e f i n i t e p er i o d o f m a t e r i a l p r o s p e r i t y , t h e y h a v e o n l y g ot t o b e h a v e i n a p e ac e f u l a n d h e l p fu l w a y t o w a r d o n e a n o t h er . ” [ 1 1 1 ]
  • 337. 337 R e g a r d i n g pe o p l e i n t o b e l o v e d i m p r u d e n c e , i g n o r a n c e a n d n o t m a k i n g r e a s o n a b l e d e c i s i o n s b y t h e s i m p l e t o n h o o d c o n s t i t u e n c y, W h e r e c a n w e g e t a d d i t i o n a l u n de r p i n n i n g s ? QUESTION: Do we desperately need a worldwide ignoramuses and simpletons shortage? F r a n c i s c o J o s é d e G o y a y L u c ie n t e s ( 3 0 M a r c h 1 7 4 6 — 1 6 A p r i l 1 8 2 8 ) : “ T h e r e a s o n s l e p t p r o d u c e s m o n st e r s . ” [ 9 8 ] Besides not “flaming” further infernos by interpersonal arguments, there is an additional consideration that I’d like to add by my pa t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r , w h o u s e d t o r e m i n d h i s c h i l d r e n : “S t u d y a n d , wh e n gr o w n u p , y o u wi l l n ei t h er b e t h e t y r a n t s ' t o y n o r t h e passions' servile slave.” I n s p e a k i n g a b o u t P e a c e , P r e s i d e n t J o h n F. K e n n e d y ’ s s p e e c h o n S e p t e m b e r 1 2 , 1 9 6 2 a t Ra c e U n iv e r s i t y : “ W e h a v e v o w e d t h a t w e s h a l l n ot s e e s p a c e f i l l ed wi t h w e a p o n s o f m a s s d e s t r u c t i o n , b u t with i n st r u m e n t s of knowledge and understanding.” [ 80 ] Seconding this motion, not less but one of the scientist who identified the DNA structure. Thus, Dr. James D. Watson, PhD: “ S c i en c e g i v e s s o c i e t y a g r e at s e n s e o f d ec i s i v e fr e e d o m . ” [ 1 8 ]
  • 338. 338 M o s t p r o m i n e n t H a r v a r d U n iv e r s i t y ' s R o g e r F i s h e r s p o k e , a t length, about not making “life-to-death” enemies out of everyone a n d t i n y i n c i d e n t s . H i s c a l l i n g wa s a b o u t ( a ) Un d e r s t a n d i n g complexities, and (b) Ac t i n g with immense prudence and constructiveness. Mr. Fisher guides his life and profession through severely sensible judgments and actions. A “role model” to be followed in the West and the world. One of his textbooks is outlined at http://amzn.to/a4hLG9 I a m c e r t a i n t h a t D r . K i s s i n g e r c a n c on f i r m m y P O V o n M r . F i s h e r . Do other diplomatic corps around the world have a bookshelf with Fisher’s findings? Before every bee that we wish to make dance like Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire, Do we “tease” it with vinegar or sugar? If we can fix a little misunderstanding with a hard-copy postcard, W h y u s e — m e t a p h o r i c a l l y s p e a k in g — a “ s h o t gu n ” a p r i o r i ? I s i t that we’re homesick and therefore longing to travel back and establish roots in the “cavemen” domicile? Since we love proving o u r s e l v e s u n a b l e a n d i n c o m p e t e n t t o o v e r c o m e a n d s u pe r s e d e o u r human omni-obsolescence, we would “light speed” retreat by staying in the primordial state that savageness so kindly offered in that cozy domicile.
  • 339. 339 # 5 . - N o pe r f e c t i o n , B U T N O W o v e r - p r a c t i c i n g t o w a r d s [ c a p t u r i n g i n t h e f a c t s a n d e s p e c i a l l y in b e f o r e - t h e - f a c t m o d e ] o v e r - p e r f e c t i o n (like NASA's Mars Rovers vastly demonstrated, these are facts and n o t “ f i gu r e s o f s p e e c h ” ) . S i n c e y o u ' r e i m p e r f e c t , b u t t o t a l l y responsible and conscientious and valuable and unique, you manage facts as the maximum perfectionist. When you're a perfect p r a c t i t i o n e r , t h e r e n e e d n ' t b e a n y pe r f e c t i o n i s t . N o w , i t c o m e s t o y o u “ f i r s t n a tu r e . ” # 6.- No breakthroughs, B UT N O W c o n q u e r i n g s u p e r n a t u r a l inventions and discoveries unendingly. # 7.- No pseudo-serendipities seizing, BUT NOW pseudo- randomized — as well as entirely randomized — serendipities capturing and yet p s e u d o - ra n d o m i z e d serendipities indirectly c o n d u c t e d o n e s i n t o m i l l e n n i u m - 3 ' s H o l l y G ra i l C o n q u e s t s . Conquests are to avoid and solve unknown and known problems, not to seek glories or powers, but to create valuable opportunities sustainably. It doesn’t matter because, when you come to think of it, you can NEVER fall outside of exercising most-indispensable impossible-
  • 340. 340 t h i n k i n g d i s c e r n m e n t ( t h a t i s , i f y ou i n s i s t o n h o n o r a b l y l i v i n g i n a domicile called Millennium 3). K i n d l y p l e a s e , a s a r e s u l t , f o r g e t a b o u t t h e s e r e n d i p i t y e ra b y D r . F le m i n g . A s we r e v e r s e e n g i n e e r a n y t e c h n o l o g i c a l d e v ic e o n t h e face of Earth, by the same token pseudo-serendipities are pseudo- programmed and pseudo-controlled serendipities and otherwise a re t o b e t h o r o u g h l y b e s i e g e d b y b r e a k t h r o u g h s o f i n v e n t i o n s a n d discoveries without the anti-Victorian sentiment of the epiphany. T h o s e i n t o m i n d e x p a n s i o n d o n ’ t n e e d e p i p h a n y e x p e r i e n c e in t h i s p la n e a t l e a s t . The Ganges River in India is about 1,560 miles long. In scenario method as applied in Transformative and Integrative Risk Management (http://slidesha.re/Trans-Method), you see the g e n e s i s o f t h e r i v e r a n d e x e r c i s e y o u r d i s c e r n m e n t t o ga i n i n s i g h t i n a dv a n c e a b o u t h o w t h e w a t e r c u r r e n t s w i l l b e h a v e a l o n g e a c h step to the final extreme. Graphical illustrations considered by “Transformative and Integrative Risk Management” are available at either h t t p : / / s l i d e s h a . r e / d U o U c L o r a t ht t p : / / b i t . l y / f A N k c d .
  • 341. 341 In this approach, there isn’t a three-scenario limit, but indeed unlimited scenario formulation duly prioritized and lavishly c ou n t e r e d (within the budget and the ultimate ya r d s t i c k of financially soundness). To view a summation of what T ra n s f o r m a t i v e a n d I n t e g r a t i v e R i s k M a n a g e m e n t e n t a i l s , l o g o n t o http://slidesha.re/TAIRM Also note: The Success pyramid via Transformative and Integrative Risk Management can be seen at http://slidesha.re/bGaOLV T ra n s f o r m a t i o n a l Success Imperatives via Transformative and Integrative Risk Management can be v ie w e d at http://slidesha.re/cmNKli By Quality Assurance I mean what is reflect in the following exhibit at http://bit.ly/d4NWqd By “Transformative An d Integrative Risk Management” Methodology I mean what is reflect in the following exhibit at http://bit.ly/9cmgzW
  • 342. 342 The i n t e ra c t i o n between possibility and probability and the resulting upside risk or downside risk at http://slidesha.re/a0FCip Graphical illustrations considered by “Transformative and Integrative Risk Management” are available at either h t t p : / / s l i d e s h a . r e / d U o U c L o r a t ht t p : / / b i t . l y / f A N k c d . I h a v e h e r e s p o k e n a b o u t m i n d e x pa n s i o n u t i l i z a t i o n . T o c i t e a n e x a m p l e t o u n de r s t a n d e a r l y o n t h e G a n g e s R i v e r , a m o n g o t h e r applications, you will need what I called epidemiological thinking in place. How Do We Do Our Challenges and Problems To Seize Our B en e f i t s a n d O p p o r t u n i t i e s ! S e e i t a t h t t p : / / s l i d e s h a . r e / c g V m i S R e g a r d i n g a “ s c e n a r i o ” a s t h a t o f t h e G a n g e s R i v e r , W ha t i s t h e t a k e o f a w i s e p e r s o n 5 0 0 y e a r s b e f o r e t h e a dv e n t o f o u r C o m m o n Era? Let’s say, Heraclites — Greek Philosopher (c.540 — c. 480 BC) i n d i c a t e d : “ N o m an e v e r s t e p s i n t o t h e s a m e r i v e r t w i c e , f o r i t ’ s n ot t h e s a m e r i v er a n d h e ’ s n o t t h e s a m e m e n . ” [ 1 0 5] S p e a k i n g o f t h e G a n g e s R iv e r a n d t h e u se f u l n e s s o f T r a n s f o r m a t i v e A n d I n te g r a t i v e R i s k M a n a g e m e n t , s e e w h a t t h e N A S A ’ s f o u n d i n g father of Systems Risk Management comments:
  • 343. 343 D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , D S c : “ I f a r i s k i s n o t fi r s t i d en t i fi e d , i t c an n e v e r b e e v a l u a t ed or c o n t r o l l e d . S o r i s k i d en t i f i c at i o n i s l i k e t h e h e ad w a t e r s o f a r i v e r . A l l h a z a r d s [ an d i t s c on c o m i t a n t s c e n ar i o s v i e w ed i n a d v a n c e ] , n o t j u s t t h e o b v i o u s , mu s t b e f l u s h ed o u t a n d b r o u gh t t o t h e a t t en t i on o f t o p m a n a g e m e n t . ” [ 9 9 ] # 8.- No uninformed a n d/ o r savvy hunches, BUT NOW systematically all-knowingness bliss instituted by an all-out, over- f oc u s e d a n d a m p l i f i e d b r a i n , in w h i c h e v e r y h e m i s p h e r e o f t h e b r a i n i s e x c e e d i n g l y c o n j u g a t e d [ i n c o n g r u i t y a n d a m p l i f ic a t i o n ] b e y o n d t h e w h o l e a n d / o r t h e s u m o f t h e pa r t s ( t h u s e x e r c i s i n g a g l o b a l ma n a g e m e n t pe r s p e c t i v e ) . Y o u s t i l l h a v e p le n t y o f t i m e before omni-bots take over, believe it or not! Would you love to a s k S i r M a r t i n R e e s a b o u t i t ( m i g h t v e r if y i t h e r e b y t h e n o n fainthearted at http://amzn.to/boqqYf)? Speaking of “omni-bots,” there is an interesting quotation to f u r t h e r r e s p e c t i v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g b y M a x F r i s c h ( 1 9 1 1 — 1 9 9 1 ) : “I n t h e n i n e t e en t h c e n t u r y t h e pr o b l e m w a s t h at G o d i s d e ad ; i n t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y t h e pr o b l e m i s t h a t m a n i s d e ad . I n t h e n i n et e e n t h c e n t u r y i n h u m a n i t y m e a n t c r u e l t y ; i n t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y i t m e an s s c h i z o i d s e l f - a li e n a t i o n . T h e d a n g e r o f t h e fu t u r e i s t h a t m e n m a y b ec o m e r ob o t s . ” [ 7 0]
  • 344. 344 I n m y 1 9 8 0 m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g t e c h n o l o g y w o r k s h o p c la s s , w e had an experimental “desktop” robot designing to perfection and m a k i n g s o p h i s t i c a t e d p a r t s t o o v e r - pe r f e c t i o n a l r e a d y ( A me r i c a n technology). That took place in Montreal’s Dawson College. Now, if the totality of knowledge is doubling between every 5 to 2 years, H o w m a n y s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l e d g e d o u b l i n g s h a v e t a k e n p la c e s i n c e 1980? Some insight on this I e la b o r a t e d about at h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 9 p 3 j F f a n d p l e a s e a l s o n o t e t h e F u tu r e E l i c i t a t i o n a n d Elucidation Encyclopedia at http://bit.ly/98hNxC Dr. Carol Bilsborough, PhD, a friend on mine, got her doctoral d e g r e e i n t h e l a t e s i x t i e s . I n t h e y e a r 2 0 00 , s h e t o l d m e t h a t a l l over A me r i c a n universities professors and technologies were s p e a k i n g o f h a v i n g t h e a c t u a l c a pa b i l i t i e s in p la c e t o m a n u f a c t u r e everything with half of the then current headcount (manpower). E v e r y o n e w i s h e s p r o g r e s s , D o e s n ’ t h e / s h e ? T he s e m a t e r i a l d e s i r e s w i l l t a k e u s t o t h e T e c h n o l o g i c a l S i n g u la r i t y ( if t h e c a v e a t a l l o w s it), the same technological singularity taught by NASA’ and G o o g l e ’ s S i n g u la r i t y U n i v e r s i t y . Y e s , ye s , t h a t i s : I f t h e C A V E A T below permits it. # 9.- No wizardry, BUT NOW solemn execution and conscientious a c t i v a t i o n o f e v e r y n e u r o - c e l l a n d g e n e a n d g e n e c lu s t e r s t h r o u g h
  • 345. 345 and until over-outcomes completion and over-completion s u s t a i n e d t h r o u g h t i m e s . A n d if t h e r e i s r e a l s o l e m n i t y b r o u g h t i n t o a c t i o n , t h e r e mu s t a l s o b e i m p e c c a b l e d e c o r u m . There is no moment now or ever for ideological or cultural i n qu i s i t i o n s or disquisitions as if the e v e r - B y za n t i n e one attempting to decipher the genders of the Angels and Archangels. The resolution of that debate is beyond the scope of this book. For i n s t a n c e , l e t ' s b e s p e c i f ic a l l y h e l p f u l : C a n w e t u r n d e n ov o m u t a t i o n s a n d t r a n s m u t a t i o n s i n t o h i g h l y d e s i r a b l e a n d f r u i tf u l anti-polymorphisms? # 1 0 . - N o mu n d a n e u n i v e r s e , B U T N O W a s a c r o s a n c t m u l t i v e r s e , a multiverse with zillion dimensions whose c a lc u la t i o n s pe r yoctosecond are unstoppable. Until when? Until Computronium’s la s t s a y ! I n t h e m e a n t i m e , s c i e n t i f ic kn o w l e d g e d o u b l i n g w i l l k e e p carrying on until what I call the “caveat.” See that “caveat” at http://bit.ly/9p3jFf I n “ L e a d i n g T h e R e v o l u t i o n ” ( 2 0 00 ) t e x t b o o k , P r o f . G a r y H a m e l ( h t t p : / / b i t . l y / d h c w e R ) m a ke s a n i m p o r t a n t p o i n t . Ha m e l i s t h e Strategos Institute founder (http://www.strategos.com/) and Professor to London Business School (http://www.london.edu/).
  • 346. 346 There he establishes that, in order to close the leading-edge e du c a t i o n a l g a p w o r l d w i d e , t h e r e n e e d s t o b e — v i a t h e W e b — m a s s i v e f o r m a l le c t u r e s ( t e le - e du t a i n m e n t ) o f 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 p u p i l s p e r each hour. In doing this, you can irradiate hope with grounds and overcome said “caveat.” # 1 1 . - N o “ l o u d a n d c l e a r ” c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i l l e v e r s u f f ic e , B UT NOW kind, constructive, tactful and unambiguous over- c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h t h e a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e p e r s p e c t i v e . Hu m a n s a re transferring unprecedented levels of complexity ( on t o themselves and others), as well as the u n iv e r s e is beyond pronouncing, to everything they do (regardless of your noticing or n o t o f z i l l i o n la y e r s o f s u b l i m i t i e s , s u b t l e t i e s , in t r i c a c ie s a n d s o on). Hence, and unless you have unprecedented dominion in practice of e v e r y f a c e t o f s c i e n c e o f c o m p l e x i t i e s i n y o u r f r a m e w o r k , p le a s e f o r g e t m e n t i o n i n g t h e a p pa l l i n g w o r d “ s i m p l i c i t y ” a n d t u r n i t b a c k to honorable Thomas Paine, so that it’s coupled and buried with that reckless lexicon “common sense.” M a k i n g t h e c a s e a g a i n s t a p pa l l i n g “ s i m p l i c i t y , ” A T & T C E O i n 1 9 9 5 said: “The complexity of trying to manage these different
  • 347. 347 businesses began to overwhelm the advantages of integration. The w o r l d h a s c h a n g e d . M a r k e t s h a v e c ha n g e d . ” [ 6 4 ] # 1 2 . - N o m a r k e t i n g “ m u m b l e d c h a t s ” b y s a l e s r e p s i n t o s n a ke - o i l selling and improper “charming,” B UT NOW t u r n in g y ou r daydreams in turbo-charged drivers of indeed relevant driving f o r c e s l u c i d l y , c l e a r l y a n d e f f ic a c i o u s l y . R e m e m b e r t o f o r g e t t h e w a v e s a n d h e e d t h e u n d e r n e a t h c u r r e n t s . B e in g s u pe r f i c ia l i s a magnificent, yet a petty enchantment by and for the ill, flawed and e v i l w h i l e d i s - s e r v i c i n g t h e h u m a n k in d f u r t h e r . “ C h a r m i n g ” i s t h e “ing”-form of the plural noun “CHARMERS.” # 13.- No sales, BUT NOW legitimately profiting from the lucrative r e d e f i n i t i o n o f f r i c t i o n l e s s c a p i t a l i s m o n l y f o r t h e s e r v ic e o f t h e P e o p l e a n d b y t h e P e o p l e . T he r e i s “ t h e P e o p l e a n d f o r t h e P e o p l e and by the People” only if these incumbents self-ignite themselves i n t o e n e r g e t i c d e m o c r a c y t h r o u g h pe r v a s i v e l y b r a i n y i n t e l l i g e n c e . I f “ T h e P e o p l e a n d f o r t h e P e o p l e a n d b y t h e P e o p l e ” d o e s n o t ta k e ownership of their rights and duties, somebody else will and ruthlessly. “ S e lf - i g n i t e themselves into energetic democratic” e qu a t e s t o p o s s e s s i n g o w n s e l f - d r i v e f o r r e l e v a n t a c h i e v e m e n t w i t h t h e H e l l e n i s t i c pe r s p e c t i v e . [ 1 2 9 ]
  • 348. 348 # 14.- No politics as usual, BUT NOW unusual scientific mind-set w i t h m i l l i n e r y ta c t a n d c i v i l i t y e x t r a n e o u s t o m a n i pu l a t i o n , d e c e i t and lie-telling, yet beyond unimpeachable orthodoxy towards r e l e v a n c e , g r o w t h a n d pe a c e . # 15.- No quick whispered talk, BUT NOW slow and wise. No slow d e e d B U T N O W l i g h t - s p e e d e x e c u t i o n s w i t h d e e p e s t kn o w l e d g e o f your operational achievements. Too many ones wish to ignore, b a s t a r d i z e a n d s a t i r i z e d t h e o r y t o “ s u c c e e d , ” a s p e r t h e i r f la w e d POVs, in a blind and effortless “practice” to furthering searching of their own existential undermining (sometimes own devastation). T o t h e o n e s e x e rc i s i n g t h e i r o w n c iv i l r i g h t s , t h e r e a r e w o r d s o f immense precaution. Timely is to remember Einstein’s thoughts, “ T h e r e i s n o t h i n g m o r e p r ac t i c a l t h an t h e o r y . ” [111] Folks, listening to Einstein, get beyond acrimonious and bitter and get unproductive. That is, to achieve or not to achieve what? What is a n d w h a t i s n o t t h e s t r a t e g i c e n d in s a i d f o l k s ’ p u r s u i t ? # 1 6 . - T o t h i s e n d : U . S . c l e r g y m a n a n d a c a de m i c i a n G e o r g e W . R u t l e r , S . T . D . ( D o c t o r o f S a c re d T h e o l o g y ) c l e a r l y s t a t e d t h a t c o m p a r e d t o t h e i l lu s t r a t i o n in e x i s t e n c e in t h e D a r k A g e s w a s , b y f a r , m u c h m o r e i l l u m i n a t e d t h a n t h a t o f t h i s e ra o f t h e g l o b a l “society of knowledge.”
  • 349. 349 F a t h e r a n d D r . Ru t l e r i s t h e a u t h o r o f t h e b o o k : C r i s i s o f S a i n t s : The Call to Heroic Faith in an Unheroic World (ISBN-10: 0824525256). Ru t t l e r added that there is u n iv e r s a l grave misunderstanding and permanent and ever-increasing underestimation concerning the enlightenment degree pursued in t h e D a r k A ge s , c le a r l y s u g g e s t i n g t h a t s a i d pu r s u e t h e n w a s mu c h g r e a t e r t h e n t h a n n o w . I n a n y f i e l d o f k n o w l e d g e , Ru t l e r ' s in t e l l e c t is beyond sophistication by any serious measure. Regardless of systems of belief and cosmos-vision and weltanschauung, I enjoy immensely consecrated intellects that speak of peace and e n l i g h t e n m e n t s e a r c h a n d e l e c t r i f ie d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n a b o v e a n d beyond dogma and doctrine. You just can’t question an impeccable i n t e l le c t w h e r e v e r i t c o m e s f r o m , s i n c e i t c o m e s f r o m e v e r y w h e r e with immaculate reasoning. # 17.- This world is immersed in too many global crises. Many sub- optimum strategies are being tried as countermeasures (rampantly failing for over twelve years to our joint disgrace) with outdated and erroneous discernment processes. Priorities, g u i d e l in e s , p r o t o c o l s , b e n c h m a r k s , m e t r i c s , c r i t e r i a , p r o f i l i n g , d i a g n o s t i c s a re way beyond flawed and incomplete.
  • 350. 350 To shed light Dr. Einstein subsequently indicates: “The significant p r o b l e m s w e f a c e c a n n ot b e s o l v e d a t t h e s a m e l e v e l o f t h i n k i n g w e w er e a t wh e n w e c r e at e d t h e m . ” [ 1 5 3 ] D r . B e r t r a n d R u s s e l l , along those lines addressing this fashionable “phenomena,” also s e n t e n c e d : “ I k n o w o f m or e p e o p l e w h o 'd r a t h e r d i e t h a n t h i n k . ” [111] # 1 8 . - A r o u n d t h e w o r l d , b e g i n n i n g w i t h a l l k in d s o f pu b l i c s e r v a n t s i n a d v a n c e d n a t i o n s , a r e f re e l y s p e a k i n g o f t w o t e r m s . One is “systemic risk” and the other is “volatility.” Ninety-eight pe r c e n t , b e i n g m e rc i f u l , o f s a i d c o n s t i t u e n t s h a v e n o i d e a a t a l l what they’re talking about and sometimes legislating and r e g u la t i n g a n d r e f o r m i n g f ra m e s o f r e f e r e n c e u p o n t h e we a k e s t g r o u n d s a n d m o s t la b i l e m e r i t s . I n a d d i t i o n t h e y h a d n o i d e a a b o u t t h e s c i e n c e , a r t , p ra c t i c e , d i s c i p l i n e a n d u l t i m a t e - t r u t h - s e e k i n g e n d e a v o r s o f a b s o l u t e ma n a g e m e n t , d o t h e y ? # 19.- No priorities, BUT NOW an structured existential sense of u r g e n c y w i t h a n a u gu s t b o d y o f n e w t h e o r i e s a n d t h r o u g h r a m p a n t and refined operational weaponry of organizational management. A g a i n , i t ’ s a b o u t n o t a b l y p r a c t i c a l t h e o r i e s . S o m e f o l k s a re p a y i n g g r e a t a t t e n t i o n , bu t t h e la r g e s t m a j o r i t i e s a r e s e t t o a l l o w t h e i r l if e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o b e r u le d b y l i m b o s a n d s e lf - s e d u c e d d e v a s t a t i o n .
  • 351. 351 D r . H e n r y K i s s i n g e r i n c o n t r o v e r t i b l y in d i c a t e d , “ A n i gn o r e d i s s u e i s an i n vi t a t i o n t o p r ob l e m s . ” You might like or dislike Dr. Kissinger. But in my view he is the m o s t e m i n e n t g e o p o l i t i c a l a c a d e m i c ia n a n d p r a c t i t i o n e r a l i v e i n the world today. # 20.- No material magnates, BUT NOW spiritual and intellectual tycoons. We need magnates to generate employment and economic dynamism. # 21.- No more leadership, BUT NOW lavishly solving it all by learning, teaching and q u e s t i o n - m a k in g within unconditional relevance to both their communities and the world at large. # 2 2 . - N o e x c e l l e n c e qu e s t , B U T N O W t h e r e - c on c e p t u a l i z a t i o n o f m a n a g e m e n t ' s H o l l y G ra i l f o r L i f e . U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e w o r d s “excellent” and “excellence” have been worn out impiously. Ergo, w e m u s t g o b a c k t o t h e s c ie n t i f i c m e t h o d p r a c t i c e a n d p a r l a n c e ( sa y , “ o p t i m u m , ” “ s u b - o p t i m u m , ” “ i n e f f e c t u a l , ” “ i n e s s e n t i a l ” ) . # 2 3 . - N o N a p o l e o n H i l l , B U T N O W N a p o l e o n B o n a pa r t e a n d t h e I n d u s t r i a l M i l i t a r y C o m p l e x ( i n c lu d i n g D A R P A , N A S A , e t a l . ) [ 9 4 ] .
  • 352. 352 To the socialistic digerati I call upon his / her attention that the web and the Internet were solely manufactured by DARPA. # 24.- No “success” accomplishers turned into “masterminds” — so-called — , BUT NOW a roulette “spinner” in a dogged search a ga i n s t u b i q u i t o u s M e d i o c r i t y D o m a n d o n b e h a l f o f c r i p p l i n g t h e s e c u r i n g o f f a i l u r e i n t h e l i g h t o f d a r i n g m a x i mu m u n c e r t a i n t i e s . There are majorities feeling that they’re prevailing by imposing on t h e m s e l v e s t h e s u c c e s s o f f a i l u r e . T h e y e v e n b o a s t a b o u t i t . R e la x that your Magna Charta allows for you to pontificate on consummating silliness as your own for-Life apostle-hood, as long as you don't damage the innocent by-standers. If Napoleon Hill is the maximum “mastermind,” Can we consequently call “baby” masterminds the ensuing: Moses, S oc r a t e s , Archimedes, Newton, Aristotle, Plato, S ha k e s p e a r e , Bacon, Milton, Galileo, Da Vinci, Kant, Nietzsche, Goethe? # 2 5 . - N o m o r e “ s t r e e t s m a r t ” ( ra t h e r “ S i l ic o n V a l le y ” s a v v y ) , B U T N O W S i l i c o n V a l l e y ' a n d s p a c e - w a l ke r s ' c le v e r n e s s , g u i d i n g t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e s i n t h e w o r l d , u n i v e r s e a n d m u l t i v e r s e . Y o u mu s t g o t o M a r s t o b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d E a r t h . A s J F K pu t t e d i t , “ W e c h o o s e go to the Moon because it's difficult...”
  • 353. 353 # 26.- No emotional intelligence, nor political correctness, BUT NOW ethics, morality and principle-center crystallized and g a lv a n i ze d into deeds. Ask Francis Bacon, “baseness” and u n c o u t h n e s s a r e f o r c on s u m m a t e d l o s e r s a n d f la w e d d o e r s o r u n - institutionalized psychopaths that eminent Sir Martin Rees affectionately calls “loners.” He is the English Crown’s top s c i e n t i s t a n d a p r o m i n e n t C a m b r i d g e U n iv e r s i t y p r o f e s s o r . Were Newton and Da Vinci dangerous “loners”? Indeed! # 27.- No IPOs, BUT NOW the starting and blurring flux of betting wildest dreams and nightmares between Vegas and M.I.T. between NASA’s Ames Research Ce n t e r and Monte Carlo, between B y z a n t i u m a n d O x b r i d g e , b e t w e e n t h e l i b r a r i e s o f A le x a n d r i a a n d that of the U.S. Congress. # 2 8 . - N o S c i n o r F i , B U T N O W a c t i o n a b l e O m n i S c i. # 2 9 . - N o m o r e c h e m i s t r y , B U T N O W m o s t a dv a n c e d m a t e r i a l s science applications. # 3 0 . - N o m o r e q u a n t u m m e c h a n ic s , B U T N O W m o s t a d v a n c e d nanotechnology applications.
  • 354. 354 # 31.- No more biotechnology, B UT NOW most a dv a n c e d b i o t e c h n o l o g y - a n d - g e n o m i c a p p l ic a t i o n s . # 3 2 . - N o m o r e m a t h e m a t i c s , B U T N O W m o s t a d v a n c e d A r t i f i c ia l I n t e l l i g e n c e c o m p u t i n g a p p l ic a t i o n s . # 33.- No more green energy, BUT NOW getting a perpetual pro b o n o r i d e f r o m g r a v i t y a n d/ o r “ d a r k ma t t e r a n d d a r k e n e r g y ” forces or forces propelled by the intermeshed of electromagnetic fields besieging Earth and cosmos, sequestered and modulated o n t o a n y c o m m u t i n g a n d/ o r m o b i l i z i n g a n d / o r a w a ke n d e v ic e , regardless of size and scale. # 3 4 . - N o m o r e i n s u r a n c e , B UT N O W b a z a a r t o k e n s t o g a m b l e y o u r compromised mortgage or business plan a ga i n s t a vivid, u n c o n t r o l l e d h a l lu c i n a t i o n , w h i l e y ou r i n pu t t e d f u n d s a r e e n j o y e d à l a D o l c e V i t a b y t h e f e w r e pu t a b l e , in s u r e r s a n d r e - in s u r e r s — s o - c a l l e d . W ha t d o t h e y in s u r e ? I n d e e d ! D o i n s u r e r s a s s u r e t h a t “ l o s s e s f u n d s ” o r “ l o s s e s r e s e r v e s ” a re e x t r e m e l y w e l l g a m b l e d t o t h e f a v o r o f t h e p r o p r i e t o r s h i p o f s u c h in s u r e r ’ s c o m p a n i e s a t t h e expense of the folly “policy holder”?
  • 355. 355 # 3 5 . - N o m o r e b a n k i n g , B UT N O W t h e s t a r t - u p c o s t t o w a s t i n g y ou 4 0 1 K a s pe r y o u r o w n s o v e r e i g n d e s i r e s . # 36.- No more stock options, BUT NOW robust investments in graveyards and coffins, transportable into outer space. Does one need a stock trader to “honestly” broker matters of afterworld and afterlife really? The undersigned and the present material’s author: “Until rigor mortis is completed, there’d better be rigor juris only.” [92] You won’t go cryogenized, Will you? A broker to do what? Isn't there t h e we b a n d I n te r n e t , t h e g r a n d i o s e s t d i s i n t e r m e d i a t o r i n d e e d , i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e ? I n a d d r e s s i n g s o m e m a t t e r s o f e du c a t i o n a l r e f o r m s , f o r m e r B r i t i s h P r e m i e r T o n y B la i r i n s i s t e d a l o u d a n d v e h e m e n t l y o n t h r e e w o r d s : “ E D U C A T I O N , E D U C A T I O N , E D U C AT I O N . ” # 3 7 . - N o m o r e b e y o n d pe t r o l e u m , B U T N O W t h e s u p i n e i g n o r a n c e of stewarding Beyond Perils without most advanced risk m a n a g e m e n t b o t h i n p r i v a t e , pu b l i c , N G O a n d s u p r a n a t i o n a l o f f i c e . T h e A m e r i c a n N e g r o F o u n d a t i o n , b y t h e w a y , h a s a s u pe r b institutional message: “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
  • 356. 356 # 3 8 . - N o m o r e f o o l i s h n e s s o f K e e p i n g I t S i m p l e — S tu p i d , B UT NOW Keep It Scientific — Savant. Scan around for the right K.I.S.S. Ascertain it isn't the failing French mode one. # 39.- Challenge yourself, BUT NOW is about over-challenging y o u r s e l f pe r e n n i a l l y t o o v e r - a c c o m p l i s h e t e r n a l l y a n d o u t s m a r t i n g legitimate and lawful “rivals.” Honor them and do as Mr. Lincoln, e l i m i n a t i n g y o u r e n e m i e s b y t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e m i n t o y o u r f r ie n d s . Friends does not equate with an onerous psychiatrists. # 4 0 . - T h e r e a re n o t p r o c e s s e s — s o - c a l l e d — , B UT N O W c a r e f u l l y c ra f t e d , knowledge-laden transactions whose c ha n n e l s and pa t h w a y s a r e b e i n g s y s t e m i c a l l y , s y s t e m a t i c a l l y a n d h o l i s t i c a l l y considered, strategized, managed, and corrected to indisputably o p t i m u m qu a l i t y r e s u l t s ( t h u s e x e r c i s i n g a g l o b a l m a n a g e m e n t pe r s p e c t i v e ) . O p t i m u m q u a l i t y i s a m a t t e r o f p r a c t i c a l a n d pa l p a b l e t a n g i b l e s t h o u g h t h e r e i s a h u g e p r e r e q u i s i t e ( t h a t m u s t c o m e in e a r l y o n before ANYTHING else), which is represented by the intangibles e m b e d d e d i n t h e a u g u s t b o d y o f kn o w l e d g e t h a t s e c u r e s s a i d p r a c t i c a l a n d p a l pa b l e t a n g i b l e s .
  • 357. 357 I t i s n o t h e r e c o n n o t e d “ t r a n s a c t i o n ” a s a m a t t e r o f a f i n a n c ia l deed but, rather, as an important engineered action of onerous i n ta n g i b l e s w i t h t h e a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e pe r s p e c t i v e . I n m a t t e r s o f g r e a t s i l l i n e s s , t h e r e a r e m u l t i t u d e s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e u sa g e o f semantics. In matters of great relevance to Earth, there are NEVER multitudes concerned about the optimum usage of semantics. # 41.- Incidentally and regarding the level of quality, times c ha n g e s : ( a ) t h e s p e c i f ic a t i o n s , ( b) t h e e x pe c t a t i o n s , ( c ) t h e s t a n d a r d s , ( d) t h e b e s t p r a c t i c e s ( s e r i o u s l y ) , a n d s o o n . T h o s e “ b e s t p r a c t i c e s ” a re u n d e r t h e h u g e r e q u i r e m e n t o f q u a l i t a t i v e o v e r h a u l i n g w h i l e mu l t i t u d e s i n s i s t o n w o r s h i p i n g q u a n t i t a t i v e analyzes to further a m p l if y their own blunders into large calamities. No, no, no. Analytics is about 90% qualitative states a n d 1 0 % qu a n t i t a t i v e s t a t e s ( s ic ) . T h e s e “ s t a t e s ” a re i m p e r m a n e n t a n d u n d e r f o r c e s o f f lu x b e y o n d 3 - D l a t e r a l t h i n k i n g . G e t o n b o a r d s o m e t i n y b i t o f v e r t i c a l t h i n k i n g a s w e l l, a m o n g m a n y o t h e r a me n i t i e s . S i r W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l h a s ma n y a p p r o a c h e s t o i n s t i t u t e mind amplification, one of them given to him by a prominent New Y o r k e r . Y e s , l a t e r a l t h i n k i n g i s in d e e d a s e n s i b l e s t e p . B u t I b e l i e v e t h a t , t h o u g h i s g r e a t l y a p p r e c ia t e d b y t h e u n d e r s i g n e d , i t w i l l n o t suffice at all by itself only.
  • 358. 358 W ha t i s la t e r a l t h i n k i n g ? “ L a t e r a l t h i n k i n g i s b o t h an at t i t u d e a n d a l s o a n u m b er o f d e f i n ed m e t h o d s . T h e a t t i t u d e o f m i n d i n v o l v e s t h e w i l l i n gn e s s t o t r y t o l o o k a t t h i n g s i n d i f f er e n t w a y s . I t i n v o l v e s a n a p p r ec i a t i on t h at a n y w a y o f l o o k i n g a t t h i n g s i s o n l y o n e a m o n g m a n y p o s s i b l e w a y s . I t i n v o l v e s an u n d e r s t an d i n g o f h o w t h e mi n d u s e s p a t t e r n s an d t h e n e e d t o e s c a p e fr o m a n e s t ab l i s h e d p at t e r n i n o r d e r t o s w i t c h i n t o a b e t t er o n e . ” ( E d w a r d De Bono) [133] # 42.- It is not a matter about “thinking out of the box,” BUT NOW i t ' s c o n c e r n i n g t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h i s mu l t i v e r s e ( mu l t i v e r s e e q u a t e s t o c o m p u t r o n i u m ) . I f t h e p r e s e n t i s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e f u tu r e , I s t h e multiverse a function of the future too? Or is the future a function o f t h e m u l t i v e r s e ? I w i l l b e a d d r e s s i n g t h e s e q u e s t i o n s a t a la t e r t i m e a s s o m e r e f l e c t i o n s a n d s c ie n t i f i c r e s e a r c h b e c o m e s a v a i l a b l e t o m e . [ 8 4] , [ 8 5 ] # 4 3 . - N o o m n i s c i e n c e , B UT N O W i t ’ s a b o u t u t i l i z i n g o p t i m u m applied omniscience to systematically and progressively understand the f u n d a m e n ta l mechanisms (e.g., fundamental mechanisms e qu a t e to fundamental systems) underlying any targeted component, sub-system and system under and beyond the Sun. Got to go epidemiological thinking, gestalt and Einstenian g e d a n k e . S ta y a t r e s t w h e n y o u n o t i c e p h y s i c i a n s , p s y c h i a t r i s t s a n d
  • 359. 359 psychologists in a hurry telling you that the human being is not a single system but a “multi-systemic system.” All things considered ultimately, and given the ruling of and by the pa t r i c i a n a n d p a t r i a r c h m u l t i v e r s e , a n y s y s t e m — w h e n h e l d a ga i n s t t a x o n o m i c c o m p a r i s o n s b e f o r e t h e m u l t i v e r s e — i s a l w a y s a sub-system. We got on the luminescent boat boarded by several pa t r i a r c h s , i n c lu d i n g Aristotle and Plato as an infinitesimal f ra c t i o n o f t h e d o w n pa y m e n t . T h e w r o n g e x p r e s s i o n i s “ m u l t i - systemic system” while the undeniably correct one is “multi- subsystemic system.” # 4 4. - I t D o e s n ’ t S u f f i c e A n y m o r e : “Seek and You Shall Find A s k an d Y o u S h a l l R e c e i v e K n oc k a n d t h e d o or S h a l l b e o p e n ed . ” BU T N O W : “ O v e r - S e e k an d Y ou S h a l l O v e r - Fi n d Over-Ask and You Shall Over-Receive Over-Knock and the door
  • 360. 360 S h a l l b e o v e r l y o p e n ed . ” # 4 5 . - N o s u b - s t a n d a r d t e r m , B U T N O W t h e u n iv e r s a l a p p l i c a t i o n — before problem avoidance and problem solution and opportunity c re a t i o n — o f t h e “ D . S . ” a c r o n y m , t h a t i s r e a l l y: D o c t o r i n S c i e n c e (D.Sc.). No silly needs here. Doctor is a millenarian term that m e a n s “ t e a c h e r . ” I s t h e r e a D o c t o r in F in e A r t s ? D o n ’ t w e n e e d a Doctor in Fine Arts? Don't ever seek the best teacher you want o u t s i d e Y O U R S E L F u n le s s y o u a d o r e b e i n g s l a v e d . A P R O M I N EN T M E S S A G E O N L E A D ER S H I P FR O M T H E S I X T E EN T H C EN T U R Y : S t. I g n a t i u s L o y o l a ( 1 4 9 1 — 1 5 5 6 ) — f o u n d e r o f t h e J e s u i t s — : “Teach us, good Lord, to serve Thee as Thou deservest; To give and not to count the cost; T o f i g h t a n d n o t t o h e ed t h e w o u n d s ; To toil and not to seek for rest; T o l a b o u r a n d n ot t o a s k f or a n y r e w ar d S a v e t h a t o f k n o w i n g t h at w e d o T h y w i l l . ” Along these lines above and acting as reinforcements, t h e r e i s t h e en s u i n g n o t i o n . ot
  • 361. 361 R a b i n d r a n a t h T a g o r e : “ I s l e p t a n d d r e a m ed t h a t l i f e w a s j o y . I a w o k e a n d s a w t h a t l i f e w a s s e r v i c e . I a c t e d , an d b eh o l d , s e r v i c e was joy.” [153] # 4 6 . - N B : A s t h e A me r i c a n s a g e s t a t e d i t — s e r i o u s l y s p e a k i n g — , “every little bit helps.” [111] In the mean time, the undersigned suggest his own self the en s u i n g : “ F o l l o w a n d i n s t i t u t e y o u r o w n o m n i s c i e n c e - d r i v en b l i s s wi t h ou t i n n u e n d o s . T h u s , d e m o l i s h t h i s t r i v i a l pr e s e n t a s y o u r e x e c u t i on s are f oc u s e d (a là Zen) on c on c ei v i n g , developing an d i mp l e m e n t i n g n e w f u t u r e s i n t h e a s - o f - n o w p r e s e n t an d b e y o n d ! ” [1] CHAPTER 5 “ON PREDICTIONS” “ P r ed i c t i on s t en d to be li n e a r extrapolations; technological ad v a n c e s t en d t o t h r o w c u r v e s . P r ed i c t i n g p o o r l y o n e c u r v e d i s a l r e a d y i m p o s s i b l e en o u g h w i t h ou t ad d i n g t h r e e m or e c u r v e s , t o s a y n ot h i n g o f t h e s e v e n o t h er s n e i t h e r o f u s c o n s i d e r e d , b u t
  • 362. 362 w h i c h w i l l ac t u a l l y p l a y a m o r e c en t r a l r o l e . ” B y D r . M i c h a e l Fossel, PhD, MD T h e r e a r e s o m e p r e d i c t i o n s a n d f o r e c a s t i n c lu d e d in t h i s w o r k a s t h e y w e r e e l a b o r a t e d b y i n d e p e n d e n t t h i r d pa r t i e s . I o n l y d o “ d r i v i n g f o r c e s ” a n d t h e i r c on c r e t e p r o j e c t i o n s f o r c u s t o m e r s a n d myself. CHAPTER 6 DEMYSTIFYING THE “REAL DEAL” IN PROFESSION, T E C H N O L O G Y , L E AD E R S H I P , M A N A G E M E N T , S T R A T E G Y , AN D B U S I N E S S , A S W E L L A S O F F E R I N G T H E C L E A R E S T BLUEPRINT! Briefly and generically stated, you meet and prevail through r e a l i t i e s b y i n s t i t u t i n g — f o r i n s t a n c e ─ t h e f o l l o w i n g r o a d m a p. First! Once you understand that the most important thing to nurture is the rotational-and-translational motion revolting within and beyond the innermost core of / by you, you can do your ethics and morality. Now you have conquered bridge 1. Conquering the f ou n d a t i o n a l p i l l a r a l s o i m p l i e s t h a t e v e r f a c e t o f y o u r p e r s o n a l and professional life will be carried on with dogged solemnity.
  • 363. 363 Second! Once you do your ethics and morality, you can do your a c t i o n a b l e k n o w l e d g e f o r L i f e . N o w y o u h a v e c o n qu e r e d a n d w i l l b e c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 2 f o r L i f e . Third! Once your actionable knowledge is done by you, you can do y o u r c o r p o r a t e p l a n n i n g a n d r e s p e c t iv e m a r s h a l e d s t r a t e g y . N o w you have conquered and will be conquering bridge 3 for Life. F o u r t h ! O n c e y o u r c o r p o r a t e p l a n n in g a n d r e s p e c t i v e m a r s h a l e d strategy is done by you, you can do your systems hazard m a n a g e m e n t . N o w y ou h a v e c o n q u e r e d a n d w i l l b e c o n q u e r i n g bridge 4 for Life. F i f t h ! O n c e y o u r s y s t e m s h a za r d m a n a g e m e n t i s d o n e b y y o u , y o u c a n d o y o u r s y s t e m s qu a l i t y a s s u r a n c e m a n a g e m e n t . N o w y o u h a v e c o n qu e r e d a n d w i l l b e c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 5 f o r L i f e . Sixth! Once your cross-functional systems quality assurance management is done by you, you can do your systems reliability engineering. Now you have conquered and will be conquering bridge 6 for Life.
  • 364. 364 Seventh! Once your systems reliability engineering is done by you, you can do your systems risk management. Now you have c o n qu e r e d a n d w i l l b e c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 7 f o r L i f e . E i g h t h ! On c e y o u r s y s t e m s r i s k ma n a g e m e n t — w i t h t h e a p p l i e d omniscience perspective — is done by you, you can do your contingency planning la v i s h l y (with thousands la y e r s of redundancy in place) for Life. Now you have conquered and will be c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 8 f o r L i f e . N i n t h ! W h e n y o u r c on t i n g e n c y p l a n n i n g i s d o n e b y y o u , y o u c a n d o your benefits (upsides and downsides). Now you have conquered and will be conquering bridge 9 for Life. Tenth! When benefits are done by you and you become hyper- engage into pervasively transformational self-renewal and self- c ha l l e n g i n g ( i n e x c e l s i s ) o f y o u r o w n i n t e l l e c t , y o u c a n d o y o u r sustainability perpetually. Now you have conquered and will be c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 1 0 f o r L i f e . Eleventh! Now you can conceive and design your own profession and tenure while concentrating in capturing womb-to-tomb (so- called) “success” and its gargantuan sustainability effort. Now you h a v e c o n qu e r e d a n d w i l l b e c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 1 1 f o r L i f e .
  • 365. 365 T we l f t h ! N e i t h e r “ t h e s e c r e t , ” n o r t h e “ h i d d e n s e c r e t , ” n o r t h e “discrete secret” magnificent marketing stunts will warrant the o x y g e n t h a t y o u r m i n d , b o d y , a n d s o u l s r e q u i r e ( s ic ) . N o w y o u h a v e c o n qu e r e d a n d w i l l b e c o n qu e r i n g b r i d g e 1 2 f o r L i f e . CHAPTER 6 QUESTION: What do Ralph Waldo Emerson, James D. W a t s o n , T h o m a s J e f f e r s o n , T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t , W i n s t on C h u r c h i l l , A r t h u r C . C l a r k e , B e rn a r d D ' es p a g n a t , A l b e r t Einstein, Carl Sagan, Malcolm S. K n ow l e s , Bertrand Russell, Francis Bacon, Henry Kissinger, Otto Herman Khan, Burrhus Frederic Skinner, and the Panchatantra << http://bit.ly/bj0rI1>> have in common, so they can offer us a positive and constructive reflection to navigate with an e v e n - k e e l e d v e s s e l t h r ou g h u n c h a r t e r e d w a t e r s i n t h e t h i r d millennium? — A Critico-Creative Thinking Prescription To Illustrate Success In 16 Steps! E m e r s o n i n d i c a t e s t h a t e du c a t o r s d o n o t e d u c a t e b u t o f f e r t h e means of education. I am not trying to educate anyone but myself t h r o u g h t h e s e l i n e s . H o w e v e r , m o s t o f m y w i s e s t c o l l e a gu e s a n d t h o u g h t f u l f r i e n d s a r e s e e k in g r e le v a n t c o n t e n t s . R e l e v a n t c o n t e n t s that prove interesting in entertaining their legitimately hungriest
  • 366. 366 m i n d s a s t h e y m e a n w e l l i n e v e r y pu r p o s e . A l l c i t a t i o n s h e r e a re a c c u r a t e t o t h e b e s t o f m y k n o w l e d g e . N o t e v e n f o r e du c a t i o n a l pu r p o s e s h a v e t h e m b e e n s i m p l i f i e d o r m o d i f i e d i n a n y w a y s i n c e i t i s n e i t h e r m y du t y n o r n a t u r e a s o f n o w . S u b s e q u e n t l y , qu o t a t i o n s h a v e b e e n k e p t i n ta c t a s t h e y h a v e b e c o m e a v a i la b l e t o m e . 1.- First off, we must establish universal acceptance of the greatest axiom of all times pertaining to the subject matter to be dealt with now. Said axiom establishes: “An ounce of prevention is worth millions of dollars of cure.” In the West we are over-working at the “cure” while under-working at the “prevention.” 2 . - H a v i n g s p o k e n o f p r e v e n t i o n , l e t ’ s n o w c ha t a b o u t p r e v e n t i v e medicine by using the greatest wisdom of Sir Francis Bacon: “He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils, for time is the greatest innovator.” 3.- Okay, Bacon has spoken loud and clear. People who listens to h i m b e n e f i t s g r e a t l y . T h o s e w h o d o n ’ t a re in s h o c k , b e w i l d e r m e n t , and even in times of struggle. We have the choice to ignore his e x t r e m e w i s d o m o r we c a n a c c e p t a n d p r a c t i c e i t t h o r o u g h l y i n every facet of our lives.
  • 367. 367 The undersigned firmly suggests either one or the other, since “gray scales” type of choices will not work for us at all. The term “extreme” sometimes can be optimal. See, for instance, NASA’s e f f o r t i n s e n d i n g a n u n ma n n e d R o v e r t o M a r s . W a s n ’ t t h a t o v e r - pe r f e c t i o n a f t e r t r a v e l i n g — b y m e a n s o f h i g h l y s o p h i s t i c a t e d telemetry — some 120 million miles into outer space? Does that say which type of out-this-Earth “excellence” is achievable above and beyond industry fashionable “quality assurance” standards? OR IS IT UPFRONT AND OUTRIGHT OVER-PERFECTION? 4 . - I f we t a k e B a c on ’ s w i s d o m l i t e r a l l y , w e a r e e x p l o i t i n g t h e UPSIDE of our life’s risks. If we don’t take Bacon’s wisdom l i t e r a l l y , w e a r e e x p l o i t i n g t h e D OW N S I D E o f o u r l if e ’ s r i s k s . 5.- Supporting the Bacon motion there is that of Dr. Bertrand R u s s e l l . T h i s f i n e s t B r i t o n , s u p p o r t i n g f u r t h e r B a c on ’ s m o t i o n ( u n d e r 2 , 3 , a n d 4) , i n d i c a t e d : “ I kn o w m o r e pe o p l e w h o p r e f e r t o d i e t h a n t o t h i n k . ” I n t e l l e c t u a l la z i n e s s i s a t o p i c h e a v i l y s t u d i e d a n d a d d r e s s e d b y a dv a n c e d s c i e n t i s t s . T he i d e a i s s i m p l y g e t t i n g pe o p l e i n d e e p, s y s t e m a t i c t h i n k i n g f o r e v e r ( t h u s e x e r c i s i n g a g l o b a l ma n a g e m e n t pe r s p e c t i v e ) . 6.- As I really wish to offer you every possibility of hope and optimism, rigor calls upon me to exhaust the downsides so that
  • 368. 368 s a i d d o w n s i d e s e v e n t u a l l y b e c o m e U PS I D E S . A l b e r t E i n s t e i n a n d Buckminster Fuller will be making their great e n s u in g c o n t r i b u t i o n s . E i n s t e i n : “I t h a s b e c o m e a p p a l li n g l y o b v i ou s t h a t ou r t e c h n o l o g y h a s e xc e e d ed o u r h u m a n i t y … W e s h a l l r e q u i r e a s u b s t a n t i a l l y n e w m an n e r o f t h i n k i n g i f m a n k i n d i s t o s u r v i v e . ” 7 . - S u p p o r t i n g E i n s t e i n m o t i o n , B u c k m i n s t e r Fu l l e r r e m i n d s u s o f the following: “Either war is obsolete, or men are.” T ru l y r e s p e c tf u l o p i n i o n s t h a t o f Ru s s e l l , E i n s t e i n , a n d B u c k m i n s t e r Fuller. But the German philosopher, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, r e i t e r a t e s t h a t i f w e c h a n g e t h e p r e s e n t w e c a n c ha n g e t h e f u t u r e , a n d i f we c h a n g e t h e f u tu r e — a s w e l l a s t h e w a y w e p r o a c t i v e l y a n d qualitatively envision and practice it through futuristic scenario m e t h o d s — we w i l l b e c h a n g i n g t h e p r e s e n t i n f a c t a n d t a k in g i n c r e a s i n g c o n t r o l o v e r t h e n e g a t i v e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t i m p a c t u s. N i e t z s c h e s t a t e d e x a c t l y : “ I t ’ s o u r f u tu r e t h a t l a y s d o w n t h e la w o f our today.” [110]. Can a prominent USA president m a ke a difference and yet further support the Nietzsche motion? I think so. Ensuing: 8.- Theodore Roosevelt, a l if e l o n g and topflight statesman concerned about making the best out of his mind and that of his c o n s t i t u e n t s , e s t a b l i s h e d : “ A l l t h e r e s o u r c e s we n e e d a r e i n t h e m i n d . ” D r . C a r l S a ga n , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a c kn o w l e d g i n g t h e w i s d o m
  • 369. 369 by Nietzsche and Roosevelt, really wishes making a point of his own next. 9 . - S o S a g a n m a d e h i s m o t i o n pu b l i c , w h i c h b a s i c a l l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t if w e e m b r a c e s e r i o u s k n o w l e d g e p r o g r e s s i v e l y , w e w i l l b u i l d g r e a t h o p e f o r t h e w o r l d . W i t h o u t e u p h e m i s m s , in t h i s c a s e “ w o r l d ” i s a n a n a l o g o u s t e r m t o “ t h e pe o p l e ” a n d “ b y / f o r t h e p e o p l e ” w o r l d w i d e . H e s a i d : “ T h e g r e a t e s t d a n g e r f o r t h e s u r v iv a l o f t h e p r e s e n t civilization is neither atomic war, nor environmental pollution, n o r t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s , a n d n o r p r e s e n t c r i s e s . T h e u n d e r l y i n g c a u s e t o a l l o f t h e a b o v e i s t h e a c c e l e ra t i o n o f man’s obsolescence … The only hope seems to be an electroshock program to re-instill to the current adults the competencies required to function adequately under a mode of perpetual change. T h i s i s a p r o f o u n d n e e d — t h e i m m e a s u r a b l e c h a l le n g e — t h a t i s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e m o d e r n s o c i e t y t o a du l t e d u c a t o r . ” E m e r s o n understands Sagan but he really wishes to make a more hopeful and viable point. 1 0 . - R a l p h W a l d o E m e r s o n w r i t e s : “ M a n h o p e s ; G e n iu s c r e a t e s . ” [ 1 1 6 ] A s y o u m a k e y o u r k n o w l e d g e m o r e d r i v e n b y y o u a n d a s pe r t h e g o a l , o b j e c t i v e s , a n d r e s u l t s e x pe c t e d f r o m y o u a n d b y y o u r s e l f , the smarter you will become without a fail. The more intelligent you become, the much better at solving problems — regardless of
  • 370. 370 how simple or complex they are — you’ll become. Becoming truly i n t e l l i g e n t i s a b i t o f a s t r u g g l e bu t i t a l s o f u l l y w i n n a b l e , e du c a t i o n a l , a n d e n j o y a b l e . A n d in m y o p i n i o n n o o n e c a n contradict Emerson on such an important theme. In some strange form, though with a positive outcome, Dr. Knowles wishes to confirm the exactness of the Emerson motion by using his words in a different way now. In matters of education, I habitually suggest r e s e a rc h i n g t h e l i f e o f D r . B u r r h u s F r e d e r i c S k i n n e r , “ E d u c a t i o n i s what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.” [116] If we ignore education, we end up ignoring our own survival. Dr. Henry Kissinger addresses it here: “An ignored issue is an invitation to problems.” [116] 11.- Dr. Malcolm S. Knowles, Ph.D. stated: “The greatest danger for the survival of the present civilization is neither atomic war, nor iv environmental pollution, nor the exploitation of natural resources, a n d n o r p r e s e n t c r i s e s . T he u n d e r l y i n g c a u s e t o a l l o f t h e a b o v e i s the acceleration of man’s obsolescence … The only hope seems to b e a n e l e c t r o s h o c k p r o g r a m t o r e - i n s t i l l t o t h e c u r r e n t a du l t s t h e competencies required to function adequately under a mode of pe r p e t u a l c h a n g e . T h i s i s a p r o f o u n d n e e d — t h e i m m e a s u r a b l e c ha l l e n g e — t h a t i s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e m o d e r n s o c i e t y t o a d u l t e du c a t o r . ”
  • 371. 371 A compatriot of Dr. Knowles, and former president of the United S ta t e s , w i s h e s t o o f f e r h i s i n s i g h t t h u s u n d e r p i n n i n g t h e m o t i o n s b y E m e r s o n a n d K n o w l e s . P r a c t i c a l, a c t i o n a b l e , m o b i l i z i n g , a n d t h e o r e t i c a l e du c a t i o n a r e i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e o f t h e m e a n s t o overcome and supersede any increasing obstacle as Einstein proved b y c la i m i n g : “ T h e s i g n i f i c a n t p r ob l e m s w e f a c e c a n n o t b e s o l v e d a t t h e s a m e l e v e l o f t h i n k i n g w e w e r e a t w h en w e c r e a t ed t h e m . ” [153] But if you use the highest order level of kn o w l e d g e systemically, you can win. [116] 1 2 . - T h o m a s J e f f e r s o n l e t u s k n o w : “I pr e f e r t h e st o r i e s o f t h e f u t u r e t h a n h i s t o r y . ” [ 1 1 6 ] Y o u s e e , a n in d e e d c o n s c i e n t i o u s f u t u r i s t a l w a y s t h i n k s t h r o u g h d o i n g a l l h i s r i s k s FI R S T t o t h e n a c c e d e t o d o i n g a l l h i s f u tu r e s a n d t h e b e n e f i t s s t e m m i n g f r o m s a i d f u t u r e s S E C O N D . I b e l i e v e J e f f e r s o n wa s A m e r ic a ’ s f i r s t , f o r e m o s t , and most responsible futurologist. In high spirits and under great responsibility, he added: “Probable i m p o s s i b i l i t i e s a re t o b e preferred to improbable possibilities.” 1 3 . - T he n a g r e a t B r i t o n a n d A m e r i c a n c a m e a l o n g t o s u p p o r t T h o m a s J e f f e r s o n m o t i o n t o t h e f u l l e s t . H i s n a m e i s W in s t o n Spencer Churchill. Yes, he was Prime Minister of the U.K. and U. became American through an enacted law by the U.S. Congress. And, in his time, Sir Winston Churchill lucidly asserted the
  • 372. 372 f o l l o w i n g : “ T h e e m p i r e s o f t h e f u t u r e ar e t h e e m p i r e s o f t h e m i n d . ” T h e n , M a c h a d o ( f r o m S pa i n ) m a d e h i s m o t i o n i n s u p p o r t i n g further and yet in a subtle way the Churchill motion. 1 4 . - A n t o n i o M a c h a d o e s t a b l i s h e d : “ An e y e i s n ot a n e y e b e c au s e y o u s e e i t ; a n e y e i s an e y e b ec a u s e i t s e e s y o u . ” G o i n g e v e n further than Machado regarding what grants a person the maximum possible own visibility of the world (cosmosvision, i.e. weltanschauung), the Panchatantra (body of Eastern philosophical k n o w l e d g e ) o f f e r s u s a ma x i m : “ K n o w l ed g e i s t h e t r u e o r g a n o f s i g h t , n o t t h e e y e s . ” T h e n B e rn a r d d ' E s p a g n a t f i n d s a m i d d l e - ground for the motions by Machado and the Panchatantra by s a y i n g : “ E v e n i f t h e U n i v e r s e i s a li t t l e m y o p i c i s t r u e t h a t , m o r e t h a n ot h e r s , M E N O F S C I E N C E A R E I T S E Y E S . ” 15.- The father of American management — and that of m a n a g e m e n t s p r e a d o u t o v e r t h e w o r l d — w i s h e s t o ma k e a n optimistic point and a word of caution that is “fine tuned-up” with a l l o f t h e c u r r e n t w o r k . I a m r e f e r r i n g t o P e t e r D ru c ke r , “ T h i n g s that have already happened but whose consequences have not been realized [because they were not imagined, considered, or envisioned by disciplined foresight and far-sight] … Don’t confuse m o v e m e n t w i t h p r o g r e s s . ” [ 1 1 6 ] Fu r t h e r i n g t h e D ru c ke r p o s i t i o n , a great American Nobel laureate — one of the scientists discovering
  • 373. 373 the DNA structure — is bound to amalgamating this motion. I mean James D. Watson, PhD. 16.- Watson tells in Charlie Rose show, originally aired in 2009, a relevant and constructive thought for our greater enlightenment w i t h h o p e : “ S c i en c e g i v e s s o c i e t y a g r e at s e n s e o f d ec i s i v e freedom.” Watson motion gets amplified by the luminescent assertion by A r t h u r C . C la r k e : “ W e h a v e t o ab a n d on t h e i d e a t h at s c h o o l i n g i s s o m e t h i n g r e s t r i c t ed t o y o u t h . H o w c a n i t b e , i n a w o r l d w h e r e h a l f t h e t h i n g s a m a n k n o w s at 2 0 a r e n o l o n g er t r u e a t 4 0 — a n d h a l f o f t h e t h i n g s h e k n o w s at 4 0 h ad n ’ t b e e n d i sc o v e r e d w h e n h e was 20?” [116] In supporting all motions — without being contradictory — Otto Herman Khan, German-American whose contributions are beyond t h e s i n e q u a n o n qu a l i t y t h e s e d a y s , t a k e s t o a f in a l p o n d e r i n g b y i n d i c a t i n g : “ C l e a r l y , t h e f i r s t t a s k i s t o g a i n a c c e p t an c e o f a m o r e r e a s o n a b l e v i e w o f t h e f u t u r e , o n e t h a t o p en s p o s s i b i l i t i e s r at h e r t h a n f or e c l o s e s t h e m . ” [ 1 1 6 ] CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION!
  • 374. 374 B r i t i s h P r i m e M i n i s t e r B e n j a m i n Di s r a e l i s t a g e d i n t h e w o r l d o f k n o w l e d g e a w o n d e r f u l r e f l e c t i o n . T o t h i s e n d h i s c o n t r i b u t i o n s a re w o r l d - c l a s s a n d n u me r o u s . O n c e kn o w n t h a t h e w a s e l e c t e d f o r pu b l i c office, a journalist asked him: “What will y ou first government action be?” Disraeli readily responded: “I will send my best friend to Australia.” “To the antipodes? What for?,” the j o u r n a l i s t a s k e d . “ S o m y f r i en d s t e l l m e h o w m y ad m i n i s t r a t i o n h er e i s s e e n f r o m t h e r e , ” D i s r a e l i m o s t a c c u r a t e l y r e s p o n d e d . [ 1 1 6 ] D i s r a e l i ’ s i n t e l l e c t w a s i m m e n s e . A n d h e a l s o wa s a “ f u t u r e - r e a d y ” type of a prominent large-scale CEO. In his mentioning of A u s t r a l i a , o n e c ou l d e s t a b l i s h — p l a y i n g t h r o u g h s e r i o u s c r i t ic o - c re a t i v e t h i n k i n g — t h a t D i s r a e l i wa s a c t u a l l y t h i n k i n g a b o u t s e n d i n g h i s b e s t f r i e n d i n t o t h e f u tu r e . S o t h a t s a i d f r i e n d c o u l d g a i n — i n a m p l e f o r e s i g h t w i t h f a r - s i g h t — t h e m o s t r e l ia b l e feedback (kind-of public opinion ratings) way in advance from the locus where the broadest pe r s p e c t i v e can be gained at the maximum and the easiest and the earliest. G e n e r a l F ra n c i s c o d e M i r a n d a — a n o u t s i d e r w i t h a L o n d o n e r ’ s h e a r t , m i n d , a n d a B r i t i s h w i f e in t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y f i g h t i n g a ga i n s t t h e S p a n i s h a r m y i n t h e A m e r i c a s — s t a t e d a p h r a s e t h a t g r e a t l y b o l s t e r s t h e b r i e f a n d ye t l u c i d d i a l o g u e h e l d b y Di s r a e l i
  • 375. 375 above. Miranda said: “Time is the context by means of which action is delivered.” [116] CHAPTER 6 QUESTION: ARE WE ADRIFT IN A SEA OF CONFUSION? CAN THE U N D E R S I G N ED O F F ER A REASONABLE PATHWAY? I hear and read a great deal about “managing effectively,” “leading t h e m o s t p e r v a s i v e a p p l ie d l e a d e r s h i p , ” “ c a p t u r i n g t h e g r e a t e s t success (in a sustained mode) in profession, business, life, and society.” T ha t h e a r d a n d r e a d i s g r e a t l y h e l p f u l a n d i n t e r e s t i n g . B u t I a m most critical with my critico-creative discernment processes in s e a rc h f o r m a x i m u m t r u t h ( a n d o r m a x i m u m t r u t h u p d a t i n g a n d u p g r a d i n g ) a n d t o r e f i n e m y c h a r a c t e r a n d pe r s o n a l i t y . Paraphrasing the magnanimous rocket scientist, I have always f o r e w a r n e d m y c o l le a g u e s , c u s t o m e r s , a n d f r ie n d s t h a t I w i l l require myself the maximum and, therefore, I habitually assert: “ M y g o a l i s s i m p l e . I t i s a c o m p l et e u n d e r s t an d i n g o f t h e u n i v er s e , w h y i t i s a s i t i s a n d w h y i t e x i s t s at a l l . ”
  • 376. 376 O n J a n u a r y 1 0 , 2 0 1 0 a t 1 1 : 1 2 p. m . E S T , I p u t t o g e t h e r s o m e o w n r e f l e c t i o n s t o o f f e r m y v i e w , r e m a in i n g r e s p e c t f u l o f t h a t o f o t h e r s , here: “ T o b e a c on s c i en t i ou s l y h u m a n b e i n g i n t o d e e p , s u b t l e , a n d proactive awareness, you need to en t e r t a i n some f or m of p r o f o u n d s p i r i t u a l i t y u n d e r s t an d i n g t h at t h e g r e a t e st w e a l t h i s t h a t o f t h e s p i r i t a n d t h e e n li g h t en e d mi n d ( t h o s e s p l e n d i d i n t an g i b l e s) . O n c e y o u d o y o u r o wn m o s t c on s c i en t i ou s a w a r e n e s s f o r L i f e , y o u c an i n c r e a s i n g l y d o y o u r m o r a l i t y a n d e t h i c s f or s a i d L i f e . O n c e y o u d o y o u r m o r a l i t y an d et h i c s , y o u c a n d o y o u r ac t i on a b l e k n o w l ed g e . I n o r d e r t o c a pt u r e e v e r - u p d a t ab l e a n d p er p e t u a l l y a m p l i f i a b l e a s w e l l a s ac t i on a b l e k n o w l ed g e , y o u a n d o n l y y o u m u s t c h a l l en g e y o u r s e l f i n t e l l ec t u a l l y a s i f y o u w er e c o m p e t i n g wi t h y o u r s t r o n g e s t o p p o n e n t . I f y o u r e a l l y wi s h t o i m m er s e y o u r mi n d i n t o t h e pe r s p e c t i v e o f t h e a p p li e d a l l - k n o w i n g n e s s , y o u m o s t m a k e t h e g r e at e s t e f f or t — i n a s u s t a i n e d mode — towards ac t i on a b l e and a p p li c ab l e o mn i s c i en c e ( h t t p : / / b i t . l y / O m n i s c i en c e _ D e fi n ed _ b y _ A n d r e s _ A g o s t i n i ) , c h i e f l y wi t h t h e p er s p e c t i v e a t t ac h ed b y t h e m o s t s o p h i s t i c at e d e x a c t s c i e n c e s . O n c e y o u d o y o u r i n t e l l ec t , k n o w l ed g e , a n d s c i e n c e , y o u c a n l u c i d l y c o n c e i v e y o u r lu c r a t i v e fu t u r e s f o r t h e s o - c a l l e d an d l a m en t a b l e ‘ h e r e s a n d n o w s . ’ W h e n y o u r fu t u r e s a r e d o n e , c on c ei v e d , v i s u a l i z e d , an d d e v e l o p ed w a y i n a d v a n c e ,
  • 377. 377 f o r e s i gh t , an d f ar - s i g h t b y y o u , y o u c a n t h e n d o y o u r u p s i d e a n d d o w n s i d e r i s k s . W h e n r i s k s a r e d on e s o l e l y b y y o u o pt i m a l l y , y o u can do your benefits. Your risks get much better done when you c o n s i d er l a v i s h p r o v i s i o n s f o r c o n t i n g e n c y p l a n n i n g u n d e r t h e r i g o r a n d v i g o r o f m e n t i o n ed o m n i s c i en c e . N o w y o u k n o w — c o m p l e t e t h e en t i r e t y o f t h i s pr o c e s s t h r o u g h pu t s y s t e m a t i c a l l y , s y s t e m i c a l l y , h o l i s t i c a l l y ( a s w e l l a s b e f o r e - t h e f a c t s m a n n er ) , and without i gn o r i n g a single st e p m e n t i o n ed above (thus e x e r c i s i n g a g l o b a l m a n a g e m e n t p er s p e c t i v e ) — h o w t o pr o c e e d i n c a p t u r i n g s u c c e s s i n p er s o n a l , pr o f e s s i o n a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , a n d societal life. Can you now commence your own development, by a n d f o r y o u r s e l f , o f s e l f - i m pr o v e m e n t a n d / o r s e l f - b e t t er m e n t ? ” [129] CHAPTER 6 G L O B A L S E I S M I C S H I F T S B Y D R . S T E P H EN C O V E Y , P H D ! B e g i n n i n g o f th e q u o t a t i o n b y D r . C o v ey . “As we move now to seek a d e e p er understanding of the o r g an i z a t i on a l c h a l l e n g e , I i n v i t e y o u t o c on s i d er s e v e n s e i s m i c s h i f t s t h at c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e n e w K n o w l ed g e W o r k er A g e . I n t h e m y o u f i n d t h e c o n t e x t o f t od a y ’ s w or k p l a c e a n d o f y o u r p er s o n a l c h a l l e n g e s … . [ * ] T h e G l o b a l i z a t i o n o f M ar k e t s a n d T e c h n o l o g i e s :
  • 378. 378 N e w t e c h n o l o g i e s ar e t r a n s f o r mi n g m o s t l oc a l , r e g i o n a l a n d n at i o n a l m a r k e t s i n t o g l ob a l m a r k et s wi t h ou t b o r d e r s … . [ *] T h e E m e r g e n c e o f U n i v e r s a l C o n n e c t i v i t y : I n t h e b o o k B l o wn t o B i t s, Evans and Wurster state, ‘T h e n ar r o w , h ar d - w i r e d , and p r o p r i et a r y c o m m u n i c at i o n channels t h at bound people or c o m p a n i e s t o g e t h er h a v e b ec o m e ob s o l e t e a l m o s t o v e r n i g h t . An d w i t h t h e m , t h e v e r y b u s i n e s s s t r u c t u r e s t h a t c r e a t ed o r e x p l o i t ed t h o s e c h a n n e l s h a v e a l s o b ec o m e ob s o l e t e . I n s h o r t , t h e g lu e t h a t h a s t r a d i t i on a l l y h e l d a l l o f o u r ec o n o m i c a c t i v i t i e s t o g e t h er i s r ap i d l y m e l t i n g i n t h e h e a t o f u n i v er s a l c on n ec t i v i t y . A n d t h i s w i l l s e p a r at e t h e f l o w o f i n f o r m a t i on fr o m t h e f l o w o f t h i n g s f o r the first time in h i s t o r y ? . . . . [ *] The Democratization of I n f o r m a t i o n / E x p e c t a t i on s : N o on e m an a g e s t h e I n t er n et . I t i s a s e a c h a n g e o f g l o b a l p r o p o r t i o n . F o r t h e fi r s t t i m e i n h i s t o r y t h e p u r e v o i c e o f t h e h u m a n s p i r i t r i n g s o u t i n m i ll i o n s o f u n ed i t ed c o n v e r s a t i on s u n f e t t e r ed by borders. Real-time i n f o r m at i o n d r i v e s e x p e c t at i o n s a n d s o c i a l w i ll w h i c h u l t i m a t e l y d r i v e t h e p o l i t i c a l w i l l t h at i m p a c t s e v e r y p e r s o n … . [ * ] A n E x p o n e n t i a l I n c r e a s e i n C o m p e t i t i o n : T h e I n t e r n e t a n d s a t e l l i t e t ec h n o l o g i e s make a n y b od y who is hooked up a potential c o m p et i t or . O r g a n i z a t i o n s mu s t c on s t a n t l y d e v e l o p b e t t er w a y s o f c o m p e t i n g a g a i n st l o w er l ab o r prices, lower material costs, f a s t er i n n o v a t i on , g r e at e r e f f i c i e n c y an d h i g h e r q u a li t y . T h e f o r c e s o f f r e e en t er p r i s e a n d c o m p e t i t i o n a r e d r i v i n g q u a l i t y u p , d r i v i n g
  • 379. 379 c o s t d o w n a n d d r i vi n g i n c r e a s e d s p e e d a n d fl e x i b i l i t y i n or d e r t o d o t h e j o b t h e c u st o m e r h a s h i r e d u s t o d o . N o o n e c a n a f f o r d t o simply b en c h m ar k against competitors or even s o - c a l l ed e xc e l l e n c e ; w e mu s t b e n c h m a r k a g a i n st ‘ w o r l d c l a s s . ’ … . [ * ] T h e Movement of Wealth Creation from Financial C a pi t a l pi to I n t el l e c t u a l a n d S oc i a l C a p i t a l : T h e w e a l t h - c r e a t i o n m o v e m e n t h a s g o n e f r o m m o n e y t o p e o p l e ─ f r o m f i n a n c i a l c a pi t a l t o t h e s u m m a r y n o t i on o f h u m a n c ap i t a l ( b ot h i n t e ll e c t u a l a n d s o c i a l) , w h i c h i n c l u d e s a l l d i m en s i o n s . M o r e t h an t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e v a l u e ad d ed t o t o d a y ’ s p r o d u c t s c o m e f r o m k n o w l e d g e w o r k ; t w en t y y e a r s a g o i t w a s l e s s t h a n on e - t h i r d … . [ * ] F r e e A g en c y : P e o p l e a r e b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e i n f or m e d , a w a r e a n d c on s c i o u s o f o p t i o n s a n d a l t er n a t i v e s t h a n e v e r b e f or e . T h e e m p l o y m e n t m a r k et i s t u r n i n g i n t o a fr e e a g e n t m a r k e t a n d p e o p l e h a v e m o r e a n d m o r e a w a r e n e s s o f c h oi c e s . Kn o w l e d g e w o r k er s w i l l r e s i s t m a n a g e m e n t e f f o r t s t o l ab e l t h e m , a n d t h e y a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y d e t er m i n ed t o b r an d t h e m s e l v e s … . [ * ] P e r m an e n t W h i t e W a t e r : W e li v e i n a c o n s t an t , c h u r n i n g, c h an g i n g en v i r on m e n t . I n t u r b u l en t w h i t e w a t e r , e v er y s i n g l e p er s o n mu s t h a v e s o m e t h i n g i n s i d e them that gu i d e s their d ec i s i on s . They mu s t i n d e p en d en t l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e p u r p o s e an d g u i d i n g pr i n c i p l e s o f t h e t e a m o r o r g an i z a t i on . I f y o u t r y t o m a n a g e t h e m , t h e y w o n ’ t e v en h e a r y o u . T h e n o i s e , t h e r o a r , t h e i m m ed i ac y an d u r g en c y o f a l l d yn a m i c c h a l l en g e s t h e y f a c e w i l l s i m p l y b e t o o gr e a t . [ 1 5 3 ]
  • 380. 380 En d o f t h e q u o t a t i o n b y D r . C o v ey . CHAPTER 6 THE TOP T R EN D S FOR 2010 BY S AN F R AN C I S C O FU T U R I S T D R . J A M E S C A N T O N , P H. D . Beginning of literal citation of Dr. Canton’s forecast: From The Global Futures Forecast (a think tank in San Francisco, C a l i f o r n i a , a l s o a t w w w . F u tu r e G u r u . c o m ) i t s C E O , J a m e s Ca n t o n , sent me “The Top Trends for 2010.” I will quote them literally with y o u f o r y ou r i n d e p e n d e n t pe r u s a l . S u b s e q u e n t l y , o n l y y o u c a n come up with your own conclusions. 1 . F u t u r e P o s i t i v e — T h i s t r e n d pe r h a p s m o r e s o t h e n a n y o t h e r captures the sentiment of most people worldwide. This is the trend t o w a r d s w a n t i n g t h e n e a r f u tu r e t o b e a g a in a h o p e f u l o n e , a f u t u r e w e c a n l o o k f o r w a r d t o . W e w a n t a p o s i t i v e r e n e w a l o f l if e . E v e n b u s i n e s s a n d g o v e r n m e n t : i t i s t i m e t o a g a i n l o o k t o t h e f u tu r e envision opportunity, value and a sense that thinks are improving.
  • 381. 381 2. The Existential Consumer— The consumer's worldview, their sense of meaning, confidence and sense of self has been trampled on as jobs and the economic crises have strained normalized r e la t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n g o v e r n m e n t s , b u s i n e s s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s . 3 . B u s i n e s s a s U n u s u a l — B o l d b u s i n e s s i s c o m i n g b a c k. A g g r e s s i v e moves, mergers and acquisitions, new ideas, fresh innovations will e me r g e t h i s y e a r . T h e r e i s a r e - t h i n k i n g g o i n g o n in b u s i n e s s . W h a t will emerge this year will not be “business as usual”. 4. Design for a Better World— This trend has been building for some time now and as the global economic recovery gets into full in s w i n g t h i s y e a r , s o m e j o b s c o m e b a c k, c a s h f l o w s , b u s i n e s s s t a r t t o g r o w t h e r e w i l l e m e r g e a d e s i r e t o m a k e t h e w o r l d b e t t e r . G i v in g back to others, social responsibility will emerge as a key trend this year. 5. Energy X— There is not enough energy in any form to sustain global growth by 2030. We need a massive global energy plan to m e e t t h e n e e d s o f t h e f u tu r e o r t h e l i g h t s m a y g o o u t . T h e E n e r g y X trend says that a radical new energy breakthrough may emerge this y e a r t o c ha n g e t h e e n e r g y e qu a t i o n i n n e w w a y s . P l e n t i f u l a n d c h e a p : i t c ou l d b e f u s i o n , n a n o t e c h , b i o m a s s , m o o n m e t h a n e m i n i n g , s o l a r s a t e l l i t e a r r a y s - s o m e ra d i c a l E n e r g y X i s c o m i n g .
  • 382. 382 6 . A s i a S e lf - R e l i a n c e — A s i a w i l l f i n d u n i qu e g r o w t h o p p o r t u n i t i e s f r o m i n s i d e t h e i r e c o n o m i e s . S e l f - S u s t a in a b l e A s i a n e c o n o m i e s w i l l b e a n u p t r e n d i n 2 0 1 0 . T h i s w i l l c re a t e m o r e b a l a n c e d t r a d e f o r t h e f u t u r e w i t h t h e W e s t . I n te r n a l e c o n o m i e s , e s p e c i a l l y I n d i a a n d C h i n a , w i l l p i c k u p t h e g r o w t h s l a c k f r o m t h e la g g a r d W e s t e r n e c o n o m i e s f o r a t i m e . G D P ' s a t 8 t o 9 % w i l l ma k e A s i a n m a r k e t s sizzle this year again. 7 . P e r s o n a l i z e d M e d i c i n e — W a n t t o k n o w h o w t o l iv e f o r e v e r ? H o w a b o u t j u s t a n o t h e r h e a l t h y 5 0 ye a r s ? P e r s o n a l i z e d m e d i c i n e w i l l s t a r t , a s t h e t o o l s t o u n d e r s t a n d in d i v i d u a l ' s d i s e a s e a n d h e a l t h p r o f i l e s w i l l b e g i n t o e me r g e . 8 . T h e N e u r o - S o c i e t y — T h i s ye a r s o m e t h i n g qu i t e f a n ta s t i c w i l l e me r g e . N e w r e s e a r c h i n h o w t h e b r a i n w o r k s , n e u r o s c i e n c e w i l l h a v e a n i m p a c t o n s o c i e t y i n c o m p r e h e n s i v e w a y s . T h i s c ou l d b e u se d f o r g o o d t o i m p r o v e l e a r n i n g a n d f o r m a s s i v e l y c on t r o l l i n g minds. Not good. B ra i n c e n t e r s f o r d e t e r m i n i n g in t e n t i o n , d e s i r e , b e l i e f , la n g u a g e , d e p r e s s i o n , l a n gu a g e e v e n i f o r w h e n a p e r s o n i s t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h or not may be possible.
  • 383. 383 9. Hungry Planet— Can we feed 8 billion by 2045? Many food e x p e r t s a r e w o r r i e d a n d t h e y s h o u l d b e . T h e c a r r y i n g c a pa c i t y o f t h e p la n e t r e q u i r e d t o f e e d a n o t h e r t w o b i l l i o n pe o p l e w i l l d e m a n d a p la n e t a r y l e v e l o f c o o p e r a t i o n n e v e r s e e n in t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e w o r l d . F o o d s e c u r i t y a n d i n c r e a s i n g q u a l i t y o f l if e f o r e i g h t b i l l i o n w i l l r e q u i r e g l o b a l p l a n n i n g a n d l o g i s t i c s t h a t h a s n o t ye t b e g u n . 1 0 . P r o d u c t s T ha t T h i n k — F r o m p r o d u c t s w i t h e m b e d d e d c o m p u t e r chips, to GPS everywhere, to smart phones and autos that know w h e r e y o u a re a n d w h e r e y o u r g o i n g t o b e - n e t w o r k s o f t h i n k i n g p r o d u c t s a re c o m i n g . E v e r y p r o d u c t w i l l h a v e i t s o w n I n te r n e t address. Over ten billion chips inside of every type of product will c re a t e a h i d d e n c u l t u r e o f t h i n k i n g p r o d u c t s t h i s y e a r . 1 1 . S o c i a l C a p i t a l i s m E m e r g e s — A n e w p a ra d i g m i s e me r g i n g t h a t w i l l t r y t o r e m a k e c a p i t a l i s m i n t o a p o p u l i s t o r s o c i a l w e lf a r e t o o l r a t h e r t h e n a pe r s o n a l a n d s o c i a l w e a l t h t o o l . I t w i l l f a i l . Unbridled taxation and government regulation under the guise of social good will kill the incentives like competition, new i n n o v a t i o n s a n d f r e e e n t e r p r i s e w e n e e d t o f o s t e r a u t h e n t ic economic growth. 1 2 . W o r k f o r c e T a le n t W a r — O r g a n i z a t i o n s r e l y o n m a n y t h i n g s t o g r o w b u t o n e f a c t o r r e m a i n s o f t h e h i g h e s t v a lu e , ta l e n t . W i t h
  • 384. 384 increased complexity, competition and demands for performance f a c i n g b u s i n e s s t h e s e a r c h f o r t a l e n t w i l l b e ke e n t h i s ye a r . T he r e a re s i m p l y n o t e n ou g h t a l e n t e d in d i v i d u a l s a v a i la b l e t o m e e t t h e growing demands of global organizations, coming from both the private and public sectors. Get ready for the talent wars. 1 3 . J o b s a n d t h e I n n o v a t i o n E c o n o m y — J o b s e s p e c ia l l y i n t h e U S w i l l r e t u r n s l o w l y a n d m a n y j o b s a re g o n e f o r e v e r . E c o n o m i c g r o w t h c re a t e s j o b s , i n n o v a t i o n j o b s f r o m g r e e n t e c h t o h e a l t h c a re a n d b i o t e c h w i l l c re a t e p r o s p e r i t y , a ga i n . R e a l j o b c re a t i o n w i l l n o t come from government but the private sector stepping up the innovation game. 1 4 . R o g u e s A m o n g U s — T he r i s e o f s o p h i s t i c a t e d r o g u e s - c r i m i n a l and terrorist organizations that prey on society will expand in 2 0 1 0 . F r o m p i r a t e s i n S o m a l i a t o d r u g t r a f f ic k i n g i n A f g h a n i s t a n , to fundamentalist terrorists: The inevitable is occurring; rogue organizations a re destabilizing the world's security order increasing chaos and risk. 15. Green Tech— Its time to transcend the issue about how much of c l i m a t e c ha n g e i s m a d e b y h u m a n s o r c a u s e d b y n a t u r e . W e n e e d t o f oc u s o n t h e r e a l e n d g a m e , w h i c h i s f i x i n g w h a t w e c a n n o w a n d p r e pa r i n g f o r t h e f u t u r e . T h i s ye a r w e m u s t f oc u s o n n e w t h i n k i n g :
  • 385. 385 g r e e n t e c h s u c h a s g e o - e n g i n e e r i n g t h e p l a n e t u s in g s c i e n c e t o p r o t e c t t h e p la n e t , s e e d t h e c l i m a t e , p o l l u t i o n c o n t r o l s , n e w a l t e r n a t i v e e n e r g y , ma k i n g c a r b o n c a p t u r e w o r k , c a r b o n r e d u c t i o n s a n d a g g r e s s i v e l y t a k e c ha r g e o f t h e c l i m a t e c r i s i s . 16. Internet Everywhere— Advanced technologies l i ke super c o m p u t e r s , t h e m o b i l i t y a n d a r t i f ic i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e a r e m a k i n g t h e Internet smarter and fundamental to life, work and culture. From o n l i n e e du c a t i o n , h e a l t h c a re , v o t i n g , e n e r g y m o n i t o r i n g , m e d i a and entertainment to banking-the Internet will be everywhere this year. 17. Tomorrow's Markets— Business faces an opportunity with such velocity that it c ou l d accelerate never-before-seen levels of c o m m e r c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y : t h e e m e r g i n g m i d d l e c la s s i n t h e d e v e l o p i n g w o r l d . T he r e a r e o v e r 2 2 m e g a c i t i e s w i l l l i k e l y g r o w t o 20 million per megacity before 2030. 18. Robots R Us— The next revolution in autonomous robots is coming fast. From drones that fly, to robot soldiers, to industrial w o r k e r s t o h o u s e c le a n e r s - t h e r o b o t s a r e c o m i n g . 19. Singularity Watch— How will we feed 8 billion? How will we m a n a g e t h e n e x t 2 0 0 m e g a - c i t i e s Ca n w e s p e e d u p t h e i n v e n t i o n o f
  • 386. 386 a l t e r n a t i v e e n e r g y ? H o w c a n w e i n s p i r e a n d e du c a t e t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n ? T h e S i n g u l a r i t y , t h e u s e o f a d v a n c e d s c ie n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y t o c o p e w i t h p la n e t a r y s o c i a l c ha l l e n g e s t h a t h u m a n i t y must address in the future is coming. 20. Reinventing Education— This year education should get a m a k e - o v e r . T o o mu c h o f e d u c a t i o n i s b a s e d o n ye s t e r d a y n o t t o m o r r o w . E d u c a t i o n n e e d s t o b e b l o w n u p a n d c h a n g e d t o k e e p in step with tomorrow's jobs, challenges and opportunities. More science, technology and global business savvy. We need to R e i n v e n t E d u c a t i o n t o m a k e i t m o r e r e l e v a n t , m o d e r n a n d f u tu r e - ready. En d o f l i t e r a l c i t a t i o n o f D r . C a n t o n ’ s f o r e c a s t . More information at: T h e G l o b a l F u tu r e s F o r e c a s t : T he T o p T r e n d s f o r 2 0 1 0 D r . J a m e s C a n t o n , C E O I n s t i t u t e f o r G l o b a l F u tu r e s w w w . F u t u r e G u ru . c o m http://www.globalfuturist.com/ CHAPTER 6
  • 387. 387 F O U R T E EN FU T U R E T R E N D S F O R B U S I N ES S I N 2 0 0 9 AN D B E Y O N D B Y T H O M A S FR E Y , S EN I O R F U T U R I S T A T T H E D AV I N C I IN S T I T U T E Beginning of quotation: A s I s t a r t e d pu l l i n g m y n o t e s t o g e t h e r f o r 2 0 0 9 t r e n d s , I i n s t a n t l y b e c a m e o v e r w h e l m e d b y t h e s h e e r v o lu m e o f c ha n g e s c u r r e n t l y in the works. The number of moving parts seems to exceed the n u m b e r o f s t a t i o n a r y pa r t s . A l l o f o u r m a r k e t s , s y s t e m s , a n d technologies have become incredibly fluid, and much like a f l o a t i n g v e s s e l , w e a r e h e a d i n g t o pa r t s u n k n o w n … . T o a f u tu r i s t , the chaotic nature of interconnecting trends and the extreme possibilities appear at times like a spinning compass needle. The disarray that we find ourselves in cries out for answers – some glimpse of the uncharted waters that lie beyond the horizon. So I’ll g i v e i t m y b e s t s h o t … . D i f f e r e n t a s pe c t s o f o u r s o c i e t y a re m o v i n g a t r a d i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t p a c e s . B u s i n e s s e s t h a t a re f l y i n g e x e c u t i v e s around the world, marshaling resources to capitalize on new opportunities, and working teams 24-7 to meet deadlines, face a r u d e a wa k e n i n g w h e n t h e y h a v e t o i n t e rf a c e w i t h a g o v e r n m e n t a ge n c y o p e r a t i n g a t a pa c e t h a t m a ke s a t u r t l e y a w n … . I n h i s r e c e n t b o o k R e v o l u t i o n a r y W e a l t h , Fu t u r i s t A l v in T o f f l e r d e s c r i b e s h o w t h e d e s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n o f s o c i e t y h a s c re a t e d m o r e a n d m o r e s p e e d
  • 388. 388 bumps along the fast lane, and with a nearly unlimited set of options for circumventing anything that slows them down, systems a re b e c o m i n g m a r g i n a l i z e d a t a r e c o r d p a c e … . W h i l e t h e r a d i c a l pa c e d i f f e r e n t i a l i s n o t j u s t b e t w e e n g o v e r n m e n t a n d b u s i n e s s , i t i s precisely this desynchronized relationship that is driving the d i s r u p t i v e c h a n g e s w e ’ r e s e e i n g a r o u n d u s , t h e m o s t ra d i c a l o f w h i c h a r e h a p pe n i n g o n a g o v e r n i n g l e v e l … . M u c h l i k e la m i n a r a i r f l o w c ou r s i n g o v e r t h e f a b r ic s o f s o c i e t y , w e a r e f i r s t s e e in g a ‘ pe e l i n g a pa r t ’ o f b u s i n e s s , i n d u s t r y , a n d s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e s . T h i s ‘ pe e l i n g a p a r t ’ i s c r e a t i n g a n u m b e r o f v a c u u m s p a c e s b e t w e e n t h e rising gaps in the social structure. While disruptive on one level, these vacuum spaces also create an array of new opportunities for business and industry….The stage is set for myriad transitions to begin to shape an era that has not only become unrecognizable to generations past, but implausible as well….Many of the global s y s t e m s w e c u r r e n t l y h a v e i n p la c e a r e o n t h e v e r g e o f b r e a k i n g . M o s t g l o b a l s y s t e m s h a v e e v o l v e d o u t o f a p a t c h w o r k o f k lu g e d - together national systems, and have not been designed to properly manage the speed, volume, and excessive nature of today’s society. We are in need of a complete systems overhaul, transitioning us from national systems to global systems….Because we have had l i t t l e a b i l i t y t o e x p e r i m e n t w i t h n e w s y s t e m s in t h e p a s t , w e w i l l b e taking blind shots in the dark, best-guessing our way forward. National systems will fight to survive, but will flounder because of
  • 389. 389 c o m p l e x i t y o v e r l o a d . I t h a s b e c o m e a l l t o o a p pa r e n t : I f w e d o n ’ t c ha n g e o u r s y s t e m s , o u r s y s t e m s w i l l c h a n g e u s …. L o o k f o r m a j o r f a i lu r e s t o o c c u r i n m o s t s y s t e m s o v e r t h e c o m i n g y e a r s i n c l u d i n g our tax systems, justice systems, social security, monetary s y s t e m s , a n d mu c h m o r e . On t h e f l i p s i d e , a l s o pa y c l o s e a t t e n t i o n to the opportunities these failures will create….As a general rule, 7 pe r c e n t o f t h e r e c e n t l y j o b l e s s w i l l a t t e m p t t o s t a r t t h e i r o w n b u s i n e s s e s . W h i l e t h o s e w h o c r e a t e o u r n e x t b r e a ka w a y s u c c e s s story will be but a tiny fraction of this phenomenon, we will see a s t r o n g e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l pu s h a n d a r e a l i g n m e n t o f t h e s y s t e m s s u p p o r t i n g e n t r e p r e n e u r s … . W i t h f in a n c i a l m a r k e t s b e i n g p in c h e d , the most popular form of startup will the Empire of One, one- pe r s o n b u s i n e s s e s w i t h f a r r e a c h i n g in f lu e n c e . T e c h n o l o g y i s driving a trend of placing unprecedented power and capability into the hands of the individual. That trend coupled with skyrocketing c o s t s o f e m p l o y m e n t ma k e t h i s a pe r f e c t e n v i r o n m e n t f o r a n o - employee business to thrive….Look for rapid growth of support structures, management systems, and outsourcing options. Even colleges and traditional business schools will see this emerging trend and start to teach courses on one-person entrepreneurship…. T h e m o v i e i n d u s t r y h a s l o n g u se d a p r o j e c t - b a s e d b u s i n e s s m o d e l w h e r e t a l e n t s w a r m s a n d f o r m s a r o u n d s p e c if i c p r o j e c t s . D i r e c t o r s , c a m e r a m e n , l i g h t i n g s p e c i a l i s t s , s c r i p t w r i t e r s , a n d m a ke u p a r t i s t s all form around the production of a movie or television show. Once
  • 390. 390 the project is complete, workers swarm and form around another project….Business colonies will emerge as next generation, i n du s t r y specific incubators with an economic development component added in. Colonies, such as nanotech colonies, gamer colonies, and alternative health colonies, will be formed in cities t o s e r v e a s a n i n d u s t r y f oc a l p o i n t a n d b r e e d i n g g r o u n d f o r s t a r t u p businesses. Owing to their nature, colonies will be both virtual and physical, but people living and working in close proximity to the colony will derive the most benefit….Colonies will form around s h a r e d r e s o u r c e s . E q u i p m e n t t h a t i s t o o e x p e n s i v e f o r o n e pe r s o n to own will be owned by the colony for all to share. Colonies will v a r y i n s i z e a n d s t r u c t u r e a s c o m m u n i t i e s b e g i n t o e x pe r i m e n t w i t h t h e e s s e n t i a l i n g r e d i e n t s n e e d e d t o m a ke i t s u c c e s s f u l … . I n September, Google and General Electric CEOs Eric Schmidt and J e f f r e y I m m e l t p r o p o s e d t h e i d e a o f c re a t i n g a “ s m a r t ” e l e c t r i c p o w e r g r i d t o p r o m o t e c le a n e n e r g y . T he i r p la n i s t o c r e a t e a g r i d that uses electricity more e f f ic i e n t l y a n d a l l o w more power generation from c le a n e r s o u r c e s … . H o w e v e r , both c on c u r t h a t pu b l i c p o l i c y i s a ma j o r i m p e d i m e n t t o b u i l d i n g a 2 1 s t c e n t u r y e le c t r i c i t y s y s t e m a n d t h e b e n e f i t s o f r e n e wa b l e e l e c t r i c i t y c a n n o t b e f u l l y r e a l i z e d w i t h o u t u p d a t i n g US p o w e r t r a n s m i s s i o n l in e s i n t o a “ s m a r t g r i d ” t h a t l e t s pe o p l e t r a c k a n d c o n t r o l w h a t t y p e s o f p o w e r t h e y u s e a s w e l l a s w h e n t h e y u s e i t … . Y e s , t h i s m a y b e a s e lf - s e r v i n g p l a y w i t h G E p o s i t i o n i n g i t s e l f t o r e c e i v e ma n y o f t h e
  • 391. 391 m a j o r c o n s t r u c t i o n c on t r a c t s a n d G o o g l e c o u l d p r o f i t a s t h e d e s i g n e r o f t h e o v e r a l l o p e r a t i n g s y s t e m . T he c l o u t o f t h e s e corporate giants along with stimulus money flowing toward key infrastructure improvements could push this proposal to center stage in the coming year… The shift to cloud computing will d o m i n a t e mu c h o f t h e t e c h w o r l d w i t h d a t a c e n t e r s s p r i n g i n g t o l i f e w h e r e v e r c h e a p e n e r g y c a n b e f o u n d . T he p r o s p e c t s o f b e i n g a b l e t o p lu g i n t o y o u r o w n w o r k s p a c e o n p o r t a b l e d e v i c e s w h e r e v e r y o u h a p p e n t o b e , a n d t a p i n t o c l o u d - b a s e d a p p l ic a t i o n s i n s t e a d o f pu r c h a s i n g t h e c lu n k y a n d e x p e n s i v e s o f t w a r e pa c ka g e s i s v e r y appealing. But for the movement to reach full steam, it will take y e a r s t o c o m p l e t e a n d w i l l b e f r a u g h t w i t h p r o b l e m s … . F o r pe o p l e working in the industry, the cloud computing movement is already w e l l u n d e r w a y . F r o m a c o n s u m e r s t a n d p o i n t we ’ v e b e e n u s i n g many types of “cloud” applications for years. Google apps are a c o m p l e t e l y a c c e p t a b l e r e p l a c e m e n t f o r M S O f f ic e f o r t h e a v e r a g e u se r . M u c h o f t o d a y ’ s e m a i l i s a l r e a d y t r a n s a c t e d t h r o u g h t h e c l o u d v i a I M A P o r G ma i l o r H o t m a i l . A n d t h i n g s l i k e . M a c o r D r o p b o x a re q u i t e u sa b l e f o r p e o p l e n e e d i n g a c l o u d b a s e d h a r d d r i v e … . T h e term “cloud computing,” however, has only recently ga i n e d t r a c t i o n a m o n g b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h t h i n g s l i k e A ma z o n ’ s W e b S e rv i c e s , G o o g l e ’ s A p p E n g i n e , e t c … . T e c h n i c a l h u r d l e s s t i l l remain when moving a desktop app up to the cloud, such as d a t a b a s e s r e qu i r i n g a d i f f e r e n t a r c h i t e c t u r e i n t h e c l o u d . T h i s w i l l
  • 392. 392 make the conversion of traditional-apps to cloud-apps somewhat pa i n f u l … . H o w e v e r , c l o u d c o m p u t i n g i s d e s t i n e d t o b e c o m e a s t e a m r o l l e r m o v e m e n t f o r c in g ma n y t o a l t e r t h e w a y t h e y d o business. Look for the smart power grid to play a major role in this d e v e l o p m e n t … . A s w i t h t h e l i f e c y c le o f a n y c a u s e , t h e G r e e n M o v e m e n t h a s p a s s e d i t s p r i m e . T h e w e i g h t o f a n y o v e ra r c h i n g philosophy becomes unwieldy over time, so as a result, many of the m o v e m e n t ’ s c o r e t e n e t s w i l l b r e a k i n t o n ic h e g r o u p s t h a t w i l l s o o n s u pe r s e d e t h e r a p i d l y d i f f u s i n g G r e e n M o v e m e n t … . A l s o r e a c h i n g the end of its useful life is the overly v a gu e concept of Sustainability. To be sustainable, the Earth’s resources must be u se d a t a r a t e a t w h i c h t h e y c a n b e r e p l e n i s h e d . W h i l e w e a l l w a n t to preserve the beauty of nature, the movement’s current approach remains an ineffective method for curbing excessive consumption, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n r e g i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i e s a re a t s t a k e …. A s a r e s u l t , b o t h t h e G re e n M o v e m e n t a n d S u s t a i n a b i l i t y w i l l s p l i n t e r into more manageable segments and transition to more innovation- b a s e d a p p r o a c h e s . L o o k f o r s e v e ra l n e w in n o v a t i o n p r i z e s t o b e c re a t e d a s a w a y t o d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o s p e c i f ic i s s u e s … . E v e n t h o u g h big oil has taken a beating in the press, and an army of innovators a re w o r k i n g o v e r t i m e t o d e v e l o p a l t e r n a t i v e s , o i l r e m a i n s o u r m o s t important energy source, the lifeblood of the American e c o n o m y … . H o w e v e r , t h e pu s h f o r a l t e r n a t i v e e n e r g y h a s o n l y b e g u n . O v e r t h e c o m i n g ye a r s , a l t e r n a t i v e f u e l s w i l l e x p a n d
  • 393. 393 exponentially, moving into additional areas beyond energy production, into energy transmission and energy storage. L e g i s l a t o r s w i l l a t t e m p t t o l e g i s l a t e c h a n g e a n d in n o v a t o r s w i l l a t t e m p t t o i n n o v a t e c ha n g e … . I n t h e a r e a o f p r o d u c t i o n , t h e familiar alternatives of wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, and h y d r o g e n w i l l c o n t i n u e t o j o c ke y f o r p o s i t i o n . B u t w h i l e e a c h i s battling for market share, H y pe r i o n ’ s home nuclear reactor c o n c e p t c o u l d e me r g e q u i c k l y f r o m u n d e r d o g s t a t u s t o g i v e a f r e s h new face to nuclear power….In the area of power transmission, the smart electric power grid will dominate early discussions. But look f o r w i r e l e s s p o w e r c on c e p t s t o b u i l d m o m e n t u m a s t h e n a t i o n wearies of its unsightly transmission lines, regardless of how s m a r t t h e y a re … . E n e r g y s t o r a g e , o n t h e l a r g e c i t y a n d r e g i o n a l scale, is surprisingly absent from our playbook. State of the art s c i e n c e i n v o l v e s pu m p i n g w a t e r t o a h i g h e r a l t i t u d e la k e d u r i n g o f f - pe a k t i m e s a n d le t t i n g i t d r a i n d o w n t h r o u g h h y d r o e l e c t r i c g e n e r a t o r s du r i n g pe a k t i m e s . L o o k f o r a n e w s u r g e o f i n n o v a t i o n to occur in this area over the coming years….The current economic turmoil has given us strong signals that our current debt load has b e c o m e u n m a n a g e a b l e . T h e s t i m u l u s p a c ka g e s s e e m t o i n d i c a t e a general effort to inflate our way out of this problem, making past debt relatively small in comparison to the v a lu e of f u tu r e money….Individual countries are tightly interwoven with their financial institutions and many are now taking extraordinary
  • 394. 394 m e a s u r e s t o s h o r e u p t h e i r c u r r e n c ie s a n d t e e t e r i n g b a n k i n g systems. In doing so, several are now on the brink of a national b a n k ru p t c y . S i n c e w e ’ v e h a d l i t t l e e x p e r i e n c e d e a l in g w i t h n a t i o n a l b a n k ru p t c i e s , we have a poor understanding of the global ramifications. But rest assured, no country wa n t s to find t h e m s e l v e s i n t h i s p o s i t i o n a n d w i l l t a ke e x t r e m e a c t i o n s t o prevent it from happening….As a result, many large multinational financial companies will begin to shift some of their riskier d i v i s i o n s o r p o r t f o l i o s i n t o s e pa r a t e c o m p a n ie s , a n d b a s e t h e s e c o m p a n i e s i n s m a l l c ou n t r i e s t o b o t h s e v e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d transfer blame. Portfolios will be “sold” to newly c re a t e d companies, and some may go so far as to create these companies in newly minted nation states. In many cases, this approach will be m a n d a t e d b y t h e h o s t c ou n t r y a s a m e a s u r e t o p r o t e c t i t s o w n pe o p l e … . T he U S g o v e r n m e n t , a s i n m o s t c ou n t r i e s , h a s b e e n designed to react in a slow and thoughtful manner. Many governmental agencies have built-in processes and planned delays t o s l o w t h e r a t e o f c h a n g e . B u t w i d e s p r e a d g o v e r n m e n ta l f o o t d r a g g i n g w i l l s o o n e n d … . U n l i ke t h e ‘ t u r n - o u t - t h e - l i g h t s - o u r - o f f i c e - is-now-closed’ approach to ru n n i n g agencies, staffers and d e pa r t m e n t h e a d s w i l l b e p l a c e d “ o n c a l l ” w i t h t e a m s w o r k i n g 2 4 / 7 schedules as government syncs to the needs of business and other global demands….Not only will we see a host of new early warning systems with real-time tracking of economic indicators, but
  • 395. 395 v i r t u a l l y e v e r y le v e l o f g o v e r n m e n t i s b e i n g p r i m e d f o r a t o p - t o - bottom ‘efficiency overhaul’. Huge opportunities await the companies that can provide the right solutions here….A sufficient jolt from the national defibrillator on our aging society’s heart might get us going again, but we run a risk approaching 80 percent f o r a n e c o n o m i c m e l t d o w n . W e w o n ’ t k n o w t h e a c tu a l s h a p e a n d form of the collapse until it is already upon us….The word “collapse” has some very ominous overtones associated with it, but think more in terms of it being a “managed collapse.” The world doesn’t end. Rather, it changes abruptly….One of the more extreme s c e n a r i o s h a s a n u m b e r o f s m a l l e r c o u n t r i e s d e c la r i n g i n s o l v e n c y . With the interconnected n a tu r e of our global society, an a c c e l e r a t i n g d o m i n o e f f e c t c ou l d c o l l a p s e n e a r l y e v e r y e c o n o m y i n t h e w o r l d i n a m a t t e r o f w e e k s a s n a t i o n s h i t t h e p a n ic b u t t o n … . I n this scenario, the result will be a two-to-four week shutdown of all banks and monetary systems as global le a d e r s convene an e me r g e n c y s e s s i o n a n d c r e a t e a p l a n f o r e m e r g i n g f r o m t h e d i s a s t e r – u n c h a r t e d t e r r i t o r y in d e e d … . U n l i k e e c o n o m i c d i s a s t e r s o f t h e pa s t , o u r c u r r e n t g l o b a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e d e m a n d s a f a r m o r e r i g o r o u s le v e l o f a t t e n t i o n a n d in v o l v e m e n t . W i t h o u t a f lu i d m o n e t a r y s y s t e m i n p l a c e t o ke e p a l l o f t h e b a l l s in m o t i o n , w e invariably create treacherous stumbling blocks that will force c ha n g e w i t h o r w i t h o u t o u r b l e s s i n g … . A f t e r t h e s t i m u l u s m o n e y i s s p e n t , pe r h a p s t h e m o s t d a u n t i n g t a s k w i l l b e t o e s t a b l i s h a n e w
  • 396. 396 s t a n d a r d f o r w h a t i t i s t o b e “ n o r m a l ” a ga i n . I n v e s t o r s a r e confused by a directionless Dow Jones that swings erratically 1 , 0 0 0 p o i n t s f r o m d a y t o d a y. R e g a i n in g a s e n s e o f v a lu e in a p o s t - s t i m u l u s e c o n o m y w i l l b e c h a l l e n g i n g … . Ov e r t h e y e a r s , w e h a v e s e e n a g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f c o m p a n i e s a d d ‘ i n f ra c t i o n f e e s ’ t o t h e b i l l s w e r e c e i v e a s c o n s u m e r s . T h e s e r a n g e f r o m l a t e pa y m e n t f e e s , t o o v e r - l i m i t f e e s , t o i n a c t iv i t y f e e s . B e c a u s e o f t h i s c o n s t a n t barrage of fee assessments, consumers have become very wary, and f ra n k l y , t i r e d o f l i v i n g u n de r t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s . W h e n g o v e r n m e n t turns a blind-eye to corporate abuse, it destroys c on s u m e r confidence and destroys system confidence. Over time it erodes o u r a b i l i t y t o d i s c e r n r i g h t f r o m w r o n g , a n d o u r c a pa c i t y f o r making good decisions. Freedom means little when we feel like victims….Few tears are shed when a bank collapses because most pe o p l e o n t h e s t r e e t s e e i t a s j u s t i c e f o r a c o r r u p t i n s t i t u t i o n . Cannibalized bank accounts leave a lingering, long term animosity from people who number in the millions….The notion that companies have free rein to penalize their customers for bad behavior is consistent in a world that rewards a widespread breach of ethics and principles….Until recently, the phrase ‘bank on it’ was a term that translated to an assumed confidence in i n s t i t u t i o n s . T ha t p h r a s e i s i n d a n g e r o f e x t i n c t i o n . A r e t u r n t o normalcy is not possible without meaningful change, change that is reassuring to shaken investors and depositors. S ta n d a r d s of
  • 397. 397 p r a c t i c e n e e d t o r e f l e c t a t t e n t i o n t o r e - e s t a b l i s h i n g in t e g r i t y a n d ethics. Perhaps what is needed is a standard bill of rights for pe o p l e d o i n g b u s i n e s s i n t h e n e w e c o n o m y … . I n t h e f a m o u s w o r d s u se d b y J o h n F . K e n n e d y a t R i c e U n iv e r s i t y , ‘ W e c h o o s e t o g o t o the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they a re e a s y , b u t b e c a u s e t h e y a re h a r d , b e c a u s e t h a t g o a l w i l l s e r v e t o organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because t h a t c ha l l e n g e i s o n e t h a t w e a r e w i l l i n g t o a c c e p t , o n e w e a r e unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.’….Curing t h e f a i l i n g s y s t e m s t h a t a r e c ru m b l i n g a r o u n d u s g i v e s u s a f a r d i f f e r e n t m o t i v a t i o n . W e a r e d o i n g i t b e c a u s e w e h a v e t o . A n d ye s , it will be very hard….We’re not going to find a way out of this mess if t h e i n d u s t r y c a p t a i n s a n d p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s d o n o t pa y a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s i m p l e c h o r e o f e n g e n d e r i n g t r u s t . H o w mu c h c a n i t r e a l l y cost someone who is pulling down millions to forgo a bonus? They likely won’t lose a house or a job….Are we up to the task? Do we have the talent in place to lead us through the coming minefields? Only time will tell….We now have a colossal need for global system a rc h i t e c t s , a j o b t i t l e r e s e r v e d f o r t h e a n o i n t e d f e w ; p e o p l e w i t h u n p a r a l le l e d v i s i o n , w i s d o m , a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n … . B UT U N L I K E MANY OF THE DOOM AND GLOOM FORECASTERS, I SEE THE C O M I N G T U R M O I L A S A G O L D E N AG E O F O P P O R T U N I T Y F O R THE WORLD. WE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPERIMENT W I T H N E W S Y S T E M S T H AT I N T H E P A S T W O U L D H A V E N E V E R
  • 398. 398 BEEN POSSIBLE….ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY T O E M E R G E A S A F A R B ET T E R W O R L D . ” [ 1 5 1 ] En d o f q u o t a t i o n . CHAPTER 6 S I X P R O F O U N D S H I F T S B Y D R . S HO S T A K I n a d d r e s s i n g s o m e m a j o r s h i f t s w i t h t h e a i m i n g s i g h t u n de r p i n n e d in the 2005 context, Dr. Arthur B. Shostak, Ph.D. argues: “ T h e r e w i l l b e s h i f t s i n t h e p at t er n o f w or l d d e b t o r an d c r ed i t or c o u n t r i e s . J a p a n ’ s ec o n o m i c d o wn t u r n , t h e e v e r - g r o w i n g U . S . debt, and Germany’s chronic unemployment p r ob l e m s are h ar b i n g e r s o f t h i n g s t o c o m e … . T h e mu l t i n a t i o n a l c o r p or a t i o n will be the world’s dominant business form….The New Age m o v e m e n t , s ec u l a r h u m a n i s m , a n d v i r t u a l c o m m u n i t i e s b u i lt o n e l ec t r o n i c s n e t w o r k i n g a r e e a r l y h ar b i n g e r s [ o f m o s t pr o f o u n d s o c i e t a l c h an g e s ] … . B i o mi m e t i c m at e r i a l s a n d pr o d u c t s t h at i mi t a t e n at u r a l biological m at e r i a l s will be c o m m o n …. T h e a s t er o i d w at c h w i l l b e c o m e a r e c o g n i z e d i n s t i t u t i o n . A m o n g i t s m o s t n o t ab l e a c h i e v e m e n t s wi l l b e s e v e r a l t r i a l r u n s a t a l t er i n g a n a s t e r o i d ’ s p at h b e f o r e i t i n t er s e c t s E a r t h ’ s o r b i t … . R e s t o r a t i o n o f a q u i f er s ( u n d er w a t er b od i e s ) w i l l b e a s t a n d a r d t ec h n o l o g y . ” [160]
  • 399. 399 CHAPTER 6 T H E F U T U R E E N V I S I O N E D B Y A R E S E AR C H P H Y S I C I S T AN D S C I E N T I S T ! D r . M i c h i o Ka k u , P h . D . : “ A b o o k w i t h t h e p r o p e r s c o p e , d e p t h , a n d a c c u r ac y n e c e s s a r y t o s u m m a r i z e t h e e x c i t i n g a n d f a s t - p ac e d p r o g r e s s o f sc i e n c e c o u l d n o t b e wr i t t e n w i t h o u t t h e i n si g h t s a n d w i sd o m o f t h e s c i e n t i s t s w h o a r e m a k i n g t h e f u t u r e p o s s i b l e … . O f c o u r s e , n o o n e p er s o n c a n i n v en t t h e fu t u r e . T h e r e i s s i m p l y t o o mu c h a c c u mu l a t ed k n o w l e d g e , t h e r e a r e t o o m a n y p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d t o o m a n y s p e c i a l i z at i o n s . I n f ac t , m o s t p r ed i c t i on s o f t h e f u t u r e h a v e f l ou n d e r ed b ec a u s e t h e y h a v e r e f l ec t ed t h e e c c e n t r i c , o f t en n ar r o w v i e w p o i n t o f a s i n g l e i n d i v i d u a l … . S c i e n t i s t s e x p e c t s o m e p r ed i c t i on s t o c o m e a b o u t b y t h e y e a r 2 0 2 0; o t h er s w i l l n o t m a t er i a l i z e u n t i l mu c h l a t er ─ fr o m 2 0 5 0 t o t h e y e a r 2 1 0 0 . A s a r e s u l t , n o t a l l p r ed i c t i o n s a r e c r e a t ed e q u a l ─ s o m e ar e m o r e f o r w ar d - l o o k i n g a n d n e c e s s a r i l y m o r e s p e c u l a t i v e t h a n o t h e r s . T h e t i m e f r a m e s I ’ v e i d e n t i f i ed i n t h e b o o k , o f c ou r s e , ar e t o b e t ak e n o n l y a s gu i d e l i n e s , t o g i v e r e ad e r s a s e n s e o f w h en c e r t ai n t r e n d s an d t ec h n o l o g i e s c an b e e x p e c t ed t o e m e r g e … . B u t t h e f e w w o n d r ou s s h e l l s a n d p e b b l e s p i c k e d u p b y N e w t o n a n d o t h e r s c i e n t i s t s on t h e s e a s h o r e h el p e d t o t r i g g e r a m ar v e l o u s c h a i n o f e v e n t s . A p r o f o u n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o c c u r r ed i n h u m a n s o c i et y .
  • 400. 400 With N e w t on ’ s m e c h an i c s came p o w e r fu l m ac h i n e s , an d e v e n t u a l l y t h e s t e a m e n g i n e , t h e m o t i v e f o r c e wh i c h r e s h a p e d t h e w o r l d b y o v e r t u r n i n g a g r a r i an s o c i e t y , s p a w n i n g f a c t o r i e s a n d s t i m u l a t i n g c o m m e r c e, u n l e a s h i n g t h e i n d u s t r i a l r e v o lu t i on , a n d o p en i n g u p t h e en t i r e c on t i n e n t s w i t h t h e r a i lr o a d … . B y t h e n i n et e e n t h c e n t u r y , a p e r i od o f i n t en s e s c i en t i fi c d i s c o v e r y w a s w e l l u n d e r w a y . R e m a r k ab l e a d v a n c e s i n s c i en c e an d m ed i c i n e h el p e d t o l i f t p e o p l e ou t o f wr e t c h e d p o v e r t y a n d i g n o r an c e , en r i c h t h e i r l i v e s , e m p o w e r t h e m w i t h k n o w l ed g e , o p en t h e i r e y e s t o n e w w o r l d s , a n d e v e n t u a l l y u n l e a s h c o m pl e x [ d r i v i n g ] f or c e s w h i c h w o u l d t o p p l e t h e f eu d a l d y n a s t i e s , f i e f d o m s , an d e m pi r e s o f E u r o p e …. B y t h e e n d o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , s c i e n c e h ad r e a c h ed t h e e n d o f a n er a , u n l oc k i n g t h e s e c r et s o f t h e a t o m , u n r a v e l i n g t h e m o l e c u l e o f li f e , a n d c r e a t i n g t h e e l ec t r on i c c o m p u t er . W i t h t h e s e t h r e e f u n d a m en t a l d i s c o v e r i e s , t r i g g e r e d b y t h e q u a n t u m r e v o l u t i on , t h e D N A r e v o l u t i on , a n d t h e c o m pu t er r e v o l u t i on , t h e b a s i c l a w s o f m a t t er , l i f e , a n d c o m p u t a t i on w er e , i n t h e m a i n , f i n a l l y s o l v e d … . T h a t ep i c p h a s e o f s c i en c e i s n o w d r a w i n g t o a c l o s e ; o n e e r a i s e n d i n g a n d an o t h er i s o n l y b e g i n n i n g … . T h e n e x t e r a o f sc i e n c e p r o m i s e s t o b e a n e v e n d e e p e r , m o r e t h o r o u g h g o i n g , m o r e p e n et r a t i n g o n e t h a n t h e l a s t … . C l e ar l y , w e a r e o n t h e t h r e s h o l d o f y e t a n ot h e r r e v o l u t i o n . H U M A N K N O W L E D G E I S D O UB L I N G E V E R Y T E N Y E A R S [ A S P E R T H E 1 9 9 8 S T A N D A R D S ] . I n t h e p a s t d ec a d e , m o r e s c i en t i f i c
  • 401. 401 k n o w l e d g e h a s b e e n c r e a t ed t h a n i n a l l o f h u m an h i st o r y . C O M P U T E R P O W E R I S D O U B L I N G E V E R Y E I G HT E E N M O N T H S . THE INTERNET IS DOUBLING EVERY YEAR. THE NUMBER OF D N A S E Q U E N C E S W E C A N A N A L Y Z E I S D O UB L I N G E V E R Y T W O Y E A R S . A l m o s t d a i l y , t h e h e a d l i n e s h e r a ld n e w a d v a n c e s i n c o m p u t er s , t e l ec o m m u n i c a t i o n s , b i ot e c h n o l o g y , and s p ac e e x p l o r at i o n . I n t h e w a k e o f t h i s t ec h n o l o g i c a l u p h e a v a l , e n t i r e i n d u s t r i e s a n d l i f e s t y l e s ar e b e i n g o v e r t u r n e d , on l y t o g i v e r i s e t o en t i r e l y n e w on e s . B u t t h e s e r a pi d , b e w i l d e r i n g c h a n g e s a r e n o t j u s t q u a n t i t at i v e . T h e y m a r k t h e b i r t h p an g s o f a n e w er a … . T od a y , w e a r e a g a i n l i k e c h i l d r en w a l k i n g o n t h e s e a s h o r e . B u t t h e o c e a n t h at N e w t o n k n e w a s a b o y h a s l a r g e l y d i s a p p e a r ed . Before us lies a new ocean, the ocean of endless scientific p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s , g i v i n g u s t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r t h e fi r s t t i m e t o m a n i p u l a t e a n d m o ld t h e s e f or c e s o f N a t u r e t o o u r w i s h e s … . F or m o s t o f h u m a n h i s t o r y , w e c o u ld o n l y w a t c h , li k e b y s t an d er s , t h e b e au t i f u l d a n c e o f N a t u r e . B u t t od a y , w e a r e o n t h e c u s p o f a n e p o c h - m a k i n g t r an s i t i o n , fr o m b ei n g p a s s i v e ob s e r v e r s o f N a t u r e t o b e i n g a c t i v e c h or e o g r a p h e r s o f N a t u r e . I t i s t h i s t e n et t h at f o r m s t h e c e n t r a l m e s s a g e … T h e er a n o w unfolding makes this one of the most exciting times to be alive, allowing us to reap the fruits of the last 2,000 years of science. T h e A g e o f D i s c o v e r y i n s c i en c e i s c o m i n g t o a c l o s e , o p e n i n g u p a n A g e o f M a s t e r y …. W h at w i l l t h e f u t u r e l o o k l i k e ? S c i e n c e
  • 402. 402 f i c t i o n w r i t e r s h a v e s o m e t i m e s m a d e p r e p o s t er o u s pr e d i c t i o n s ab o u t t h e d e c ad e s a h e a d , f r o m v a c a t i o n i n g o n M ar s t o b an i s h i n g a l l d i s e a s e s . A n d e v e n i n t h e p o pu l a r p r e s s , a l l t o o o f t en a n ec c en t r i c s o c i a l c r i t i c ’ s i n d i v i d u a l p r ej u d i c e s a r e s u b s t i t u t ed f o r t h e c on s e n s u s w i t h i n t h e s c i en t i f i c c o m m u n i t y . ( I n 1 9 9 6 , f o r e x a m p l e , T h e N e w Y o r k T i m e s M a g a z i n e d e v o t ed an en t i r e i s s u e t o li f e i n t h e n e x t 1 0 0 y e a r s . J o u r n a l i s t s , s o c i o l o g i s t s , w r i t e r s , f a s h i on d e s i g n e r s , a r t i s t s , a n d ph i l o s o p h e r s a l l su b m i t t ed t h e i r t h o u g h t s . R e m a r k a b l y , n o t a s i n g l e s c i e n t i s t w a s c o n su l t ed ) …. T h e p o i n t h e r e i s t h at p r ed i c t i on s a b o u t t h e f u t u r e m a d e b y p r o f e s s i o n a l s c i en t i s t s t e n d t o b e b a s ed m u c h m o r e s u b s t an t i a l l y o n t h e r e a l i t i e s o f s c i e n t i f i c k n o w l ed g e t h an t h o s e m ad e b y s o c i a l c r i t i c s , o r e v e n t h o s e b y s c i e n t i s t s o f t h e p a s t wh o s e pr e d i c t i o n s w er e m ad e before the fu n d a m e n t a l s c i en t i f i c laws w er e c o m p l e t e l y k n o w n … . ( On e i s r e m i n d e d o f t h e p r ed i c t i o n m a d e b y A d m i r a l W i l l i a m L e a h y t o P r e s i d en t T r u m a n i n 1 9 4 5 : ‘ T h a t i s t h e b i g g e s t f o o l t h i n g w e h a v e e v e r d on e … T h e [ a t o mi c ] b o m b w i l l n e v e r g o o f f , a n d I wi l l s p e a k a s a n e x p er t i n e x p l o s i v e s . ’ T h e ad m i r a l , l i k e m an y ‘ f u t u r i s t ’ t o d a y , w a s s u b s t i t u t i n g h i s o wn p r e j u d i c e s f o r t h e c o n s e n su s o f p h y s i c i st s w o r k i n g o n t h e b o mb . ) … . A s a r e s e a r c h p h y s i c i s t , I b e l i e v e t h a t ph y s i c i s t s h a v e b e e n p ar t i c u l ar l y s u c c e s s f u l a t p r ed i c t i n g t h e b r o a d o u t l i n e s o f t h e future. Professionally, I work in one of the most fundamental areas of physics, the quest to complete Einstein’s dream of a
  • 403. 403 ‘ t h e o r y o f e v e r y t h i n g . ’ A s a r e su l t , I a m c o n s t a n t l y r e m i n d ed o f t h e w a y s i n wh i c h q u a n t u m p h y s i c s t o u c h e s m a n y o f t h e k e y d i s c o v e r i e s t h at s h a p e d t h e t w en t i e t h c en t u r y … . I n t h e p a s t , t h e t r a c k r ec o r d o f p h y s i c i s t s h a s b e e n f o r m i d a b l e : w e h a v e b e en i n t i m a t e l y i n v o l v e d w i t h i n t r od u c i n g a h o s t o f pi v o t a l i n v e n t i o n s ( T V , r ad i o , r a d ar , X - r a y s , t h e t r a n s i s t o r , t h e c o m pu t e r , t h e l a s e r , t h e a t o m i c b o m b ) , d e c od i n g t h e D N A m o l e c u l e , o p e n i n g n e w d i m e n s i on s i n p r o b i n g t h e b od y wi t h P E T , M R I , a n d CA T s c a n s , a n d e v e n d e s i g n i n g t h e I n t er n et an d t h e W or l d W i d e W e b . P h y s i c i s t s a r e b y n o m e a n s s e e r s w h o c an f or e t e l l t h e fu t u r e ( an d w e c er t a i n l y h a v e n ’t b e e n s p a r e d ou r s h a r e o f s i l l y p r ed i c t i on s ! ) . N o n e t h e l e s s , i t i s t r u e t h a t s o m e o f t h e s h r e w d ob s e r v a t i o n s a n d p en e t r a t i n g i n s i g h t s o f l e ad i n g p h y s i c i s t s o f l e a d i n g p h y s i c i s t s i n t h e h i s t or y o f s c i e n c e h a v e o p en e d u p en t i r e l y n e w fi e l d s … . T h er e u n d ou b t e d l y wi l l b e s o m e a s t on i s h i n g s u r pr i s e s , t wi t s o f f a t e, a n d e mb a r r a s s i n g g a p s i n t h i s v i s i o n o f t h e fu t u r e : I wi l l a l m o s t i n e v i t ab l y o v e r l o o k s o m e i m p o r t a n t i n v e n t i o n s a n d d i s c o v e r i e s o f t h e t w en t y - f i r s t c en t u r y . B u t b y f oc u s i n g o n t h e i n t er r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t h r e e g r e a t s c i en t i fi c r e v o l u t i o n s , a n d b y c o n s u l t i n g w i t h t h e s c i e n t i s t s wh o a r e ac t i v e l y b r i n g i n g ab o u t t h i s r e v o l u t i o n a n d e x a m i n i n g t h e i r d i s c o v e r i e s , i t i s m y h o p e t h at w e c a n s e e t h e d i r ec t i o n o f s c i e n c e i n t h e fu t u r e w i t h c o n s i d e r ab l e i n s i g h t an d ac c u r a c y … . O v e r t h e p a s t t en y e a r s , w h i l e w o r k i n g o n t h i s b o o k , I h a v e h ad t h e r ar e p r i v i l e g e o f i n t er v i e w i n g o v e r 1 5 0 s c i en t i s t s ,
  • 404. 404 including a good many Nobel Laureates …. These are the s c i e n t i s t s w h o a r e t i r e l e s s l y w o r k i n g i n t h e t r e n c h e s , wh o a r e l a y i n g t h e f o u n d a t i on s o f t h e t w en t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y , m a n y o f w h o m a r e o p en i n g u p n e w a v e n u e s a n d v i s t a s f o r s c i en t i f i c d i s c o v e r i e s . I n t h e s e i n t e r v i e w s , a s w e l l a s t h r ou g h m y o w n w o r k a n d r e s e a r c h , I w a s a b l e t o g o b a c k o v e r t h e v a s t p an o r a m a o f s c i en c e l a i d ou t b e f o r e m e an d d r a w fr o m a w i d e v a r i e t y o f e x p er t i s e an d k n o w l e d g e . T h e s e s c i en t i s t s h a v e g r a c i o u s l y o p e n ed t h ei r o f f i c e s a n d t h e i r l a b or a t o r i e s an d s h a r ed t h e i r m o s t i n t i m at e s c i en t i f i c i d e a s wi t h m e … I ’ v e t r i ed t o r e t u r n t h e f a v o r b y c a pt u r i n g t h e r a w e x c i t e m e n t a n d v i t a l i t y o f t h ei r sc i e n t i f i c d i s c o v e r i e s , f o r i t i s essential to instill the romance and excitement of science in the g e n er a l p u b l i c , e s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u n g , i f d e m o c r ac y i s t o r e m a i n v i b r a n t a n d r e s o n at i n g f o r c e i n a n i n c r e a s i n g l y t e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d b e w i l d e r i n g w o r l d … . T h e f ac t i s t h a t t h e r e i s a r o u g h c on s e n s u s e m er g i n g a m o n g t h o s e en g a g e d i n r e s e a r c h a b o u t h o w t h e f u t u r e will evolve. B ec a u s e the laws behind the quantum t h e or y , c o m p u t er s , a n d m o l e c u l a r b i o l o g y a r e n o w w e l l e s t a b l i s h ed , i t i s p o s s i b l e f o r s c i e n t i s t s t o g en e r a l l y p r ed i c t t h e p at h o f s c i e n t i f i c progress in the future. This is the central reason why the p r e d i c t i o n s m ad e h e r e , I f e e l, ar e m or e ac c u r a t e t h a n t h o s e o f t h e p a s t … . T h e s e t h r e e e l e m e n t s [ M a t t er , L i f e , T h e M i n d ] f o r m t h e p i l l a r s o f m o d er n s c i en c e. Hi s t o r i a n s w i l l m o s t l i k e l y r ec o r d t h a t t h e c r o w n i n g o f t w en t i e t h - c en t u r y s c i e n c e w a s u n r a v e l i n g t h e
  • 405. 405 b a s i c c o m p o n e n t s u n d e r l y i n g t h e s e t h r e e p i ll a r s , c u l m i n a t i n g i n t h e s p l i t t i n g o f t h e n u c l eu s o f t h e a t o m , t h e d e c od i n g o f t h e nucleus of the cell, an d the development of the e l ec t r o n i c c o m p u t er . W i t h o u r b a s i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f m a t t er an d l i f e l ar g e l y c o m p l e t e , w e a r e wi t n e s s i n g t h e c l o s e o f o n e o f t h e gr e a t c h a p t er s i n t h e h i s t o r y o f sc i e n c e . ( T h i s d o e s n ot m e a n t h a t a l l t h e laws of these three pillars are completely known, only the most fundamental. For example, although the laws of e l ec t r on i c c o m p u t er s ar e w e l l k n o w n , o n l y s o m e o f t h e b a s i c l a w s o f a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d t h e b r a i n ar e k n o w n . ) … . T h e f i r s t o f t h e s e t w e n t i e t h - c e n t u r y r e v o l u t i o n w a s t h e q u an t u m r e v o l u t i on , t h e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l o f a l l. I t w a s t h e q u an t u m r e v o l u t i on t h a t l at e r h el p e d t o s p a w n t h e t w o ot h e r g r e a t s c i e n t i f i c r e v o lu t i on s , t h e b i o m o l ec u l a r r e v o l u t i on an d t h e c o m p u t e r r e v o l u t i o n … . S i n c e t i m e i m m e m o r i a l , p e o p l e h a v e s p e c u l at e d w h a t t h e w or l d w a s m a d e o f . T h e G r e e k s t h ou g h t t h at t h e u n i v e r s e w a s m a d e o f f ou r e l e m en t s : w a t er , a i r , e ar t h a n d f i r e. T h e p h i l o s o p h er D e m o c r i t u s b e l i e v e d t h a t e v e n t h e s e c o u l d b e b r o k e n d o w n i n t o s m a l l e r u n i t s, w h i c h h e c a l l e d ‘ a t o m s . ’ B u t a t t e m pt s t o e x p l a i n h o w a t o m s c r e a t e t h e v a s t , w o n d r ou s d i v e r s i t y o f m at t e r w e s e e i n N a t u r e a l w a y s f a l t e r e d . E v e n N e w t o n , wh o d i sc o v e r e d t h e c o s m i c l a w s w h i c h gu i d ed t h e m o t i o n o f p l an e t s a n d m o o n s , w a s a t a l o s s t o e x p l a i n t h e b e w i l d er i n g n a t u r e o f m a t t er … . Al l t h i s c h an g e d i n 1 9 2 5 w i t h the birth of the quantum theory, wh i c h has unleashed a
  • 406. 406 t h u n d er i n g t i d a l w a v e o f s c i en t i fi c d i s c o v e r y t h a t c o n t i n u e s t o s u r g e u n a b a t ed t o t h i s d a y . T h e q u a n t u m r e v o lu t i on h a s n o w g i v e n u s a n a l m o s t c o m p l e t e d e s c r i p t i on o f m a t t e r , a l l o w i n g u s t o d e s c r i b e t h e s e e m i n g l y i n fi n i t e m u lt i p li c i t y o f m a t t e r w e s e e arrayed around us in terms of a handful of particles, in the same w a y t h a t a r i c h l y d ec o r a t ed t a p e s t r y i s w o v e n f r o m a f e w c ol o r e d s t r a n d s … . T h e q u a n t u m t h e o r y , c r e at e d b y E r w i n S c h r ö d i n g e r , W e r n er H e i s e n b er , a n d m an y o t h er s , r e d u c ed t h e m y s t e r y o f m a t t e r t o a f e w p o s t u l a t e s . Fi r s t , t h at e n er g y i s n o t c o n t i n u o u s , a s t h e a n c i e n t s t h ou g h t , b u t oc c u r s i n d i s c r et e b u n d l e s , c a l l e d ‘ q u a n t a . ’ ( T h e p h o t on , f o r e x a m p l e , i s a q u an t u m o r p ac k e t o f li g h t . ) S ec o n d , t h a t s u b a t o m i c p ar t i c l e s h a v e b ot h p a r t i c l e a n d wavelike qualities, ob e y i n g a w e l l - d e fi n ed e q u a t i on , the c e l e b r a t e d S c h r öd i n g er w a v e e q u at i o n , w h i c h d e t er m i n e s t h e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t c er t a i n e v e n t s oc c u r . W i t h t h i s e q u a t i on , w e c a n m a t h e m a t i c a l l y p r ed i c t t h e p r o p er t i e s o f a w i d e v a r i e t y o f substances before creating them in the l ab o r a t or y . The c u l mi n a t i o n o f t h e q u an t u m t h e o r y i s t h e S t an d a r d M o d e l, w h i c h c a n p r ed i c t t h e p r o p e r t i e s o f e v e r y t h i n g fr o m t i n y s u b - at o m i c quarks to giant supernovas in outer space …. In the twentieth century, the q u an t u m t h e or y has gi v e n us the ab i l i t y to u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a t t e r w e s e e ar o u n d u s. I n t h e n e x t c en t u r y , t h e q u a n t u m r e v o l u t i o n m a y o p e n t h e d o o r t o t h e n e x t s t ep : t h e ab i l i t y t o m a n i p u l at e an d c h or e o g r a p h n e w f o r m s o f m a t t e r ,
  • 407. 407 a l m o s t a t w i l l … . I n t h e p a s t , c o m pu t er s w e r e m a t h e m at i c a l c u r i o s i t i e s ; t h e y w er e su p r e m e l y c l u m s y , m e s s y c o n t r a p t i o n s , consisting of a complex mass of gears, levers, and cogs. During W or l d W a r I I , m e c h a n i c a l c o m pu t er s w er e r ep l a c e d b y v a c u u m t u b e s , b u t t h e y w e r e a l s o m o n st r o u s i n s i z e , f i l l i n g u p e n t i r e rooms with racks of thousands of vacuum tubes …. The turning point came in 1948, when s c i en t i s t s at Bell L a b or a t o r i e s d i s c o v e r ed the t r an s i s t o r , which made possible the m o d er n c o m p u t er . A d ec a d e a f t e r t h a t , t h e l a s e r w a s d i s c o v e r ed , w h i c h i s e s s e n t i a l t o t h e I n t e r n e t a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i on h i g h w a y . B o t h ar e q u a n t u m m e c h an i c a l d e v i c e s … . I n t h e q u an t u m t h e o r y , e l e c t r i c i t y c a n b e u n d er s t o o d a s t h e m o v e m e n t o f e l ec t r on s , j u s t a s d r o p l e t s o f w a t er c an m a k e a r i v e r . B u t on e o f t h e s u r pr i s e s o f t h e q u a n t u m t h e o r y i s t h a t t h er e a r e ‘b u b b l e s ’ o r ‘ h o l e s ’ i n t h e c u r r e n t , c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o v a c an c i e s i n e l ec t r o n s t at e s , w h i c h ac t a s i f t h e y a r e e l e c t r o n s w i t h p o s i t i v e c h a r g e. T h e m o t i o n o f t h e s e c u r r e n t s o f b ot h h o l e s a n d e l ec t r o n s w i t h p o s i t i v e c h ar g e . T h e m o t i o n o f t h e s e c u r r en t s o f b ot h h o l e s an d e l e c t r on s a l l o w s t r a n s i s t or s t o a m p l i f y t i n y e l ec t r i c a l s i g n a l s , w h i c h f o r m s t h e basis of modern e l e c t r on i c s …. T od a y , tens of mi l l i o n s of t r a n s i s t or s c an b e c r a m m e d i n t o an ar e a t h e s i z e o f a fi n g e r n a i l . I n t h e f u t u r e , o u r l i f e s t y l e s w i l l b e i r r e v o c ab l y c h an g e d w h en m i c r oc h i p s become so p l en t i fu l that intelligent systems are d i s p e r s e d b y t h e mi l l i o n s i n t o a l l p ar t s o f o u r e n v i r on m e n t … . I n
  • 408. 408 t h e p a s t , w e c ou l d on l y m a r v e l a t t h e pr e c i o u s p h en o m e n o n c a l l e d i n t e l l i g e n c e ; i n t h e f u t u r e , w e w i l l b e a b l e t o m a n i p u l at e i t ac c o r d i n g t o o u r w i s h e s … . H i s t o r i c a l l y , m a n y b i o l o g i s t s w e r e i n f l u e n c ed b y t h e t h e o r y o f ‘ v i t a l i s m ’ ─ i . e . , t h a t a m y s t er i o u s ‘ l i f e force’ or su b s t a n c e animated living things. This view was c h a l l e n g ed wh e n S c h r öd i n g er , i n h i s 1 9 4 4 b o o k W h a t i s L i f e ? , d a r e d t o c l a i m t h a t l i f e c ou l d b e e x p l ai n e d b y a ‘ g e n et i c c o d e ’ wr i t t e n o n t h e m o l ec u l e s w i t h i n a c e l l. I t w a s a b o ld i d e a : t h at t h e s e c r e t o f l i f e c ou l d b e e x p l a i n e d b y u s i n g t h e q u an t u m t h e o r y … . J a m e s W at s o n a n d F r a n c i s C r i c k , i n s p i r ed b y t h e S c h r öd i n g e r ’ s book, eventually proved his c on j ec t u r e by using X-ray c r y s t a l l o g r a p h y . B y a n a l y z i n g t h e p a t t e r n o f X - r a y s s c a t t e r ed o f f a D N A m o l ec u l e, t h e y w er e a b l e t o r e c o n s t r u c t t h e d e t a i l e d at o m i c s t r u c t u r e o f D N A a n d i d en t i f y i t s d ou b l e - h e li c a l n at u r e . S i n c e t h e q u a n t u m t h e or y a l s o g i v e s u s t h e p r ec i s e b o n d i n g a n g l e s a n d b o n d i n g s t r en g t h b et w e e n a t o m s , i t en a b l e s u s t o d e t er m i n e t h e p o s i t i o n o f p r a c t i c a l l y a l l t h e i n d i v i d u a l m o l ec u l e s i n t h e g e n et i c c o d e o f a c o m p l e x v i r u s l i k e H I V … . T h e s e t ec h n i q u e s o f m o l e c u l ar b i o l o g y w i l l a l l o w u s t o r e a d t h e g e n e t i c c od e o f l i f e a s w e w o u ld r e a d a b o o k . A l r e a d y , t h e c o m p l e t e D N A c od e o f s e v e r a l li v i n g o r g an i s m s , l i k e v i r u s e s , s i n g l e - c e l l b ac t er i a , a n d y e a s t , h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e l y d e c o d ed , m o l ec u l e f o r m o l e c u l e … . T h e c o m p l e t e h u m an g e n o m e wi l l b e d ec o d ed b y t h e y e a r 2 0 0 5, g i v i n g u s a n ‘ o w n e r ’ s m a n u a l ’ f o r a h u m an b e i n g . T h i s w i l l s e t t h e s t a g e f o r t w en t y -
  • 409. 409 f i r s t c en t u r y sc i e n c e a n d m ed i c i n e . I n s t e a d o f w a t c h i n g t h e d a n c e o f l i f e , t h e b i o m o l ec u l a r r e v o l u t i on wi l l u lt i m a t e l y g i v e u s t h e n e a r l y g o d - l i k e ab i l i t y t o m an i p u l a t e l i f e a l m o s t a t w i l l … . S o m e c o m m e n t a t or s , w i t n e s s i n g t h e s e h i s t or i c a d v a n c e s i n sc i e n c e o v e r t h e p a s t c e n t u r y , h a v e c l ai m e d t h at w e a r e s e e i n g t h e d e m i s e o f t h e s c i e n t i f i c e n t e r p r i s e . J o h n H or g a n , i n h i s b o o k T h e E n d o f S c i en c e, wr i t e s : ‘ I f o n e b el i e v e s i n sc i e n c e , o n e m u s t a c c e p t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y ─ e v en t h e p r ob a b i li t y ─ t h a t t h e g r e at e r a o f sc i e n t i f i c d i s c o v e r y i s o v e r … . F u r t h e r r e s e a r c h m a y y i e l d n o m o r e g r e at r e v e l a t i o n s o r r e v o l u t i o n s , b u t o n l y i n c r e m en t a l , d i m i n i s h i n g r e t u r n s . ’ … . I n o n e l i m i t ed s e n s e , H or g a n i s r i g h t . M o d er n sc i e n c e h a s n o d ou b t u n c o v e r ed t h e f u n d a m e n t a l l a w s u n d e r l y i n g m o s t o f the disciplines of sc i e n c e : the quantum theory of matter, E i n st e i n ’ s t h e o r y o f s p a c e - t i m e , t h e B i g B a n g t h e o r y o f c o s m o l o g y , t h e D ar w i n i a n t h e o r y o f e v o l u t i o n , a n d t h e m o l ec u l ar b a s i s o f D N A an d l i f e . D e s p i t e s o m e n o t ab l e e x c ep t i on s ( e . g . , d et e r m i n i n g t h e n at u r e o f c on s c i ou s n e s s an d pr o v i n g t h a t s u p e r s t r i n g t h e o r y , m y p a r t i c u l a r f i e l d o f s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , i s t h e f a b l e u n i f i ed f i e ld t h e o r y ) , t h e ‘ g r e a t i d e a s ’ o f s c i en c e, f or t h e m o s t p ar t , h a v e probably been found …. Likewise, the era of reductionism ─ i.e., r e d u c i n g e v er y t h i n g t o i t s s m a l l e s t c o m p o n en t s ─ i s c o m i n g t o a c l o s e . R ed u c t i on i s m h a s b e en s p ec t a c u l a r l y s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e twentieth century, unlocking the secrets of the atom, the DNA m o l ec u l e , a n d t h e l o g i c c i r c u i t s o f t h e c o m pu t e r . B u t r ed u c t i on i s m
  • 410. 410 h a s p r o b a b l y , i n t h e m a i n , r u n i t s c ou r s e … . H o w e v e r , t h i s i s j u st the beginning of the romance of s c i en c e , These scientific m i l e s t o n e s c e r t a i n l y m a r k a s i gn i f i c a n t b r e a k w i t h t h e a n c i e n t p a s t , w h e n N a t u r e w a s i n t er p r et e d t h r ou g h t h e pr i s m o f a n i mi s m , m y s t i c i s m , a n d s p i r i t u a l i s m . B u t t h e y on l y o p e n t h e d o o r t o a n en t i r e l y n e w er a o f s c i en c e … . T h e n e x t c en t u r y [ 2 1 ] w i l l w i t n e s s a n e v e n m o r e f ar - r e a c h i n g s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , a s w e m a k e t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m u n r a v e l i n g t h e s e c r et s o f N a t u r e t o b e c o m i n g m a s t e r s o f N a t u r e …. S h e l d on G l a s h o w , a N o b e l L a u r e a t e i n p h y s i c s , d e s c r i b e t h i s d i f f er e n c e m et a p h o r i c a l l y wh e n h e t e l l s t h e s t or y o f a v i s i t o r n a m e d Ar t h u r f r o m a n ot h e r p l a n e t m e e t i n g e a r t h l i n g s f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e : ‘ A r t h u r [ i s ] a n i n t e l li g e n t a l i en f r o m a d i s t a n t p l an e t w h o ar r i v e s a t W a s h i n gt o n S q u ar e [ i n N e w Y o r k C i t y ] an d ob s e r v e s t w o o l d c o d g er s p l a y i n g c h e s s . C u r i o u s , Ar t h u r gives himself two tasks: to learn the rules of the game, and to b e c o m e a gr a n d m a s t e r . ’ B y c a r e fu l l y w a t c h i n g t h e m o v e s , A r t h u r i s gr a d u a l l y ab l e t o r ec o n s t r u c t t h e r u l e s o f t h e g a m e : h o w p a w n s ad v a n c e , h o w q u e en s c a pt u r e k n i g h t s , an d h o w v u l n er a b l e k i n g s a r e. H o w e v e r , j u s t k n o w i n g t h e r u l e s d o e s n ot m e an t h a t A r t h u r h a s b ec o m e a g r a n d m a s t e r ! A s G l a s h o w a d d s : ‘ B o t h k i n d s o f en d e a v o r s ar e i m p o r t an t ─ on e m o r e ‘ r e l e v a n t , ’ t h e o t h er m or e ‘ f u n d a m e n t a l . ’ B ot h r e p r e s e n t i m m e n s e c h a l l en g e s t o t h e h u m an i n t e l l e c t . ’ … . I n s o m e s e n s e , s c i e n c e h a s f i n a l l y d e c od e d m a n y o f the fundamental ‘rules of Nature,’ but this does not mean that we
  • 411. 411 h a v e b e c o m e g r an d m a s t er s . L i k e w i s e , t h e d an c e o f e l e m e n t a r y p ar t i c l e s d e e p i n s i d e s t a r s an d t h e r h y t h m s o f D N A m o l e c u l e s coiling and uncoiling wi t h i n ou r bodies have been l ar g e l y d e c i p h e r ed , b u t t h i s d o e s n ot m e a n t h a t w e h a v e b e c o m e m a s t e r c h o r e o g r a p h er s o f l i f e … . I n f a c t , t h e e n d o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , w h i c h e n d e d t h e gr e a t p h a s e i n t h e h i s t o r y o f s c i en c e, h a s o n l y o p en e d t h e d o o r t o t h e e x c i t i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s o n t h e n e x t . W e a r e n o w m a k i n g t h e t r an s i t i o n f r o m a m a t eu r c h e s s p l a y e r s t o gr a n d masters, from o b s e r v er s to c h o r e o g r a p h er s of Nature …. S i m i l ar l y , t h i s i s c r e at i n g a n e w a p p r o a c h i n t h e w a y i n w h i c h s c i e n t i s t s v i e w t h e i r o w n d i s c i p l i n e. I n t h e p a s t , t h e r ed u c t i on i s t a p p r o a c h h a s p ai d o f f h an d s o m e l y , e v e n t u a l l y e s t a b li s h i n g t h e f ou n d at i o n f o r m o d er n p h y s i c s , c h e m i s t r y , a n d b i o l o g y … . A t t h e h e ar t o f t h i s su c c e s s w a s t h e d i sc o v e r y o f t h e q u an t u m t h e or y , w h i c h h e l p ed t o s p a r k t h e o t h er t w o r e v o l u t i on s … . T h e q u a n t u m r e v o l u t i on gave birth to the c o m pu t er and biomolecular r e v o l u t i on s v i a t h e t r a n s i s t or , l a s e r , X - r a y c r y s t a l l o g r a p h y , a n d t h e t h e o r y o f m o l e c u l a r b o n d s … . B u t s i n c e t h e q u an t u m t h e o r y h el p e d t o i n i t i a t e t h e s e o t h er r e v o l u t i o n s i n t h e 1 9 5 0 ’ s , t h e y h a v e s i n c e m a t u r e d a n d g r o w n o n t h e i r o w n , l ar g e l y i n d e p en d en t o f p h y s i c s a n d o f e a c h o t h e r . T h e w a t c h w o r d w a s s p ec i a l i z a t i o n , a s s c i e n t i s t s p r ob e d d e e p e r a n d d e e p er i n t o t h e i r s u b d i sc i p l i n e s , s m u g l y i g n o r i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s i n o t h e r f i e ld s . B u t n o w t h e h e yd a y of reductionism has p r o b ab l y passed. S e e mi n g l y
  • 412. 412 i mp e n e t r a b l e ob s t a c l e s h a v e b e e n en c ou r a g e d wh i c h c an n o t b e s o l v e d b y t h e s i m p l e r ed u c t i o n i s t a p p r o ac h . T h i s i s h er a l d i n g a new era, one of synergy between the three fundamental r e v o l u t i on s . ’ … . T h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y , u n li k e t h e pr e v i o u s o n e s , w i l l b e t y p i f i e d b y s y n e r g y , t h e c r o s s - f e r t i l i z at i o n b e t w e en a l l t h r e e f i e l d s , wh i c h wi l l m a r k a s h a r p t u r n i n g p o i n t i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f sc i e n c e . T h e c r o s s - p o l l i n a t i on b e t w e en t h e s e t h r e e r e v o l u t i on s will be vastly a c c el e r a t ed and will enrich the development of sc i e n c e , gi v i n g us u n pr e c ed e n t e d p o w er to m a n i p u l at e m at t e r , l i f e , a n d i n t el l i g e n c e …. I n f a c t , i t wi l l b e d i f f i c u l t t o b e a r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t i n t h e f u t u r e wi t h ou t h a v i n g s o m e w or k i n g k n o w l ed g e o f a l l t h e s e t h r e e a r e a s . Al r e a d y , s c i e n t i s t s wh o d o n ot h a v e s o m e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e s e t h r e e r e v o l u t i on s a r e f i n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s a t a d i st i n c t c o m p et i t i v e disadvantage …. The new r e l a t i on s h i p between the three r e v o l u t i on s i s a n i n t e n s e l y d y n a m i c o n e . O f t e n , wh e n a n i m p a s s e i s r e ac h e d i n o n e a r e a , u s u a l l y a t o t a l l y u n e x p ec t ed d e v e l o p m e n t i n a n o t h er f i e l d i s f o u n d t o c on t a i n t h e s o l u t i o n . F o r e x a m p l e , b i o l o g i s t o n c e d e s p a i r ed o f e v e r d ec i p h er i n g t h e m i l l i on s o f g e n e s b e i n g d i sc o v e r e d i n ou r l ab o r a t o r i e s i s b ei n g d r i v en l a r g e l y b y a development in an o t h er fi e l d : the exponential increase in c o m p u t er p o w e r , w h i c h i s m e c h an i z i n g a n d a u t o m a t i n g t h e g e n e - sequencing process. Similarly, silicon c o m pu t er chips will e v e n t u a l l y h i t a r o a d b l o c k a s t h e y b ec o m e t o o c lu m s y f o r t h e
  • 413. 413 c o m p u t er o f t h e n e x t c e n t u r y . B u t n e w a d v a n c e s i n D N A r e s e a r c h a r e m a k i n g p o s s i b l e a n e w t y p e o f c o m pu t er a r c h i t e c t u r e w h i c h ac t u a l l y c o m p u t e s o n o r g a n i c m o l ec u l e s . T h u s , d i sc o v e r i e s i n o n e f i e l d n o u r i s h a n d f e r t i l i z e d i sc o v e r i e s i n t ot a l l y u n r e l a t ed f i e ld s . T h e w h o l e i s m o r e t h a n t h e s u m o f i t s p ar t s … . On e o f t h e c o n s e q u en c e s o f t h i s i n t en s e s y n e r g y b et w e e n t h e s e r e v o l u t i o n s i s t h a t t h e s t e ad y p ac e o f s c i en t i f i c d i s c o v e r y i s ac c e l er a t i n g a t a n ever-increasing rate …. This ac c e l er a t i o n of s c i en c e and technology into the next century will necessarily have vast r e p e r c u s s i o n s on t h e w e a l t h o f n a t i o n s an d o u r s t an d a r d o f li v i n g . F or t h e p a s t t h r e e c e n t u r i e s , w e a l t h w a s u s u a l l y a c c u mu l a t ed b y t h o s e n at i o n s w h i c h w e r e e n d o w e d w i t h r i c h n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s o r w h i c h a m a s s e d l ar g e a m o u n t s o f c a p i t a l. T h e r i s e o f t h e G r e a t P o w e r s o f E u r o p e i n t h e n i n et e e n t h c e n t u r y a n d t h e U n i t ed S t at e s i n t h e t w en t i e t h c e n t u r y f o l l o w s t h i s c l a s s i c t e x t b o o k pr i n c i pl e …. However, as Lester C. Thurow, former dean of MIT’s Sloan School o f M a n a g e m e n t , h a s s t r e s s e d , i n t h e i n c o mi n g c en t u r y , t h er e wi l l b e a h i s t o r i c m o v e m e n t i n w e a l t h a w a y fr o m n at i o n s w i t h n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s an d c a p i t a l . I n t h e s a m e w a y t h a t s h i f t s i n t h e e a r t h ’ s t e c t o n i c p l a t e s c a n g e n e r at e p o w er f u l e a r t h q u a k e s , t h i s s e i s m i c s h i f t i n w e a l t h wi l l r e s h a p e t h e d i st r i b u t i on o f p o w e r o n t h e p l an e t . T h u r o w w r i t e s : ‘ I n t h e t w en t y - f i r s t c en t u r y , b r a i n p o w e r and i m a g i n a t i on , invention, and the or g a n i z a t i o n of new t e c h n o l o g i e s a r e t h e k e y i n g r ed i e n t s . ’ I n f a c t , m an y n at i o n s w h i c h
  • 414. 414 a r e r i c h l y en d o w e d w i t h a b u n d a n t n at u r a l r e s o u r c e s w i l l f i n d t h e i r w e a l t h v a s t l y r e d u c ed b ec a u s e , i n t h e m a r k e t p l a c e o f t h e f u t u r e , c o m m o d i t i e s w i l l b e c h e a p , t r ad e w i l l b e g l ob a l , a n d m a r k et s wi l l b e l i n k e d e l e c t r on i c a l l y . A lr e a d y , t h e c o m m od i t y p r i c e s o f m a n y n at u r a l r e s o u r c e s p lu m m e t ed s o m e 6 0 p er c e n t f r o m t h e 1 9 7 0 s t o t h e 1 9 9 0 s , a n d , i n T h u r o w ’ s e s t i m a t i o n , wi l l p l u m m e t an o t h er 6 0 p e r c e n t b y 2 0 2 0 …. E v e n c a pi t a l i t s e l f w i l l b e r e d u c ed t o a c o m m o d i t y , r ac i n g ar o u n d t h e g l o b e e l e c t r o n i c a l l y . M an y n at i o n s w h i c h a r e b a r r e n o f n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s w i l l f l o u r i s h i n t h e n e x t c e n t u r y b e c au s e t h e y p l ac e d a pr e m i u m o n t h o s e t e c h n o l o g i e s w h i c h c an g i v e t h e m a c o m p et i t i v e ed g e i n t h e g l ob a l m a r k et p l a c e. ‘ T o d a y , k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l l s n o w s t a n d a l o n e a s t h e o n l y s o u r c e o f c o m p a r a t i v e a d v a n t a g e , ’ T h u r o w a s s e r t s …. A s a c o n s e q u en c e, s o m e n a t i on s h a v e d r a wn u p l i s t s o f t h e k e y t e c h n o l o g i e s w h i c h w i l l s e r v e a s t h e en g i n e s o f w e a lt h a n d p r o s p e r i t y i n t o t h e n e xt c e n t u r y . A t y pi c a l l i s t w a s c o m p i l ed i n 1 9 9 0 b y J a p a n ’ s M i n i s t r y o f I n t e r n a t i on a l T r ad e an d I n d u st r y . That list i n c l u d ed : m i c r o e l ec t r on i c s , b i o t ec h n o l o g y , the new m a t er i a l s c i e n c e i n d u st r i e s , t e l ec o m m u n i c a t i o n s , c i v i l i an a i r c r a ft m a n u f a c t u r i n g , m a c h i n e t o o l s a n d r ob o t s , c o m p u t e r s ( h a r d w ar e a n d s o f t w a r e ) … . W i t h ou t e x c e pt i o n , e v e r y o n e o f t h e t ec h n o l o g i e s s i n g l e d o u t t o l e ad t h e t w en t y - fi r s t c en t u r y a r e d e e p l y r o o t ed i n t h e q u an t u m , c o m p u t e r , a n d D N A r e v o l u t i on s … . T h e p o i n t i s t h a t t h e s e t h r e e s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n s ar e n o t o n l y t h e k e y t o sc i e n t i f i c
  • 415. 415 b r e a k t h r o u gh s i n t h e n e x t c e n t u r y ; t h e y ar e a l s o t h e d y n a m i c en g i n e s o f w e a l t h an d p r o s p e r i t y . N a t i o n s m a y r i s e a n d f a l l on t h e i r ab i l i t y t o m a s t er t h e s e t h r e e r e v o l u t i on s . I n a n y a c t i v i t y , t h e r e a r e w i n n er s a n d l o s e r s . T h e w i n n e r s wi l l l i k e l y b e t h o s e n at i o n s wh i c h f u l l y gr a s p t h e v i t a l i m p or t a n c e o f t h e s e t h r e e s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n s . T h o s e w h o w ou l d sc o f f a t t h e p o w e r o f t h e s e r e v o l u t i on s m a y f i n d t h e m s e l v e s m a r g i n a li z e d i n t h e g l o b a l m a r k et p l a c e o f t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y …. I n m a k i n g p r ed i c t i o n s ab o u t t h e f u t u r e, i t i s c r u c i a l t o u n d e r s t an d t h e t i m e f r a m e b e i n g d i s c u s s e d , f o r , o b v i o u s l y , d i f f e r en t t ec h n o l o g i e s w i l l m a t u r e a t d i f f e r en t t i m e s . T h e t i m e fr a m e s o f t h e pr e d i c t i o n s m a d e i n Visions fall into three categories: those breakthroughs and t e c h n o l o g i e s t h a t w i l l e v o l v e b et w e e n n o w a n d t h e y e a r 2 0 2 0, t h o s e t h a t w i l l e v o l v e f r o m 2 0 2 0 t o 2 0 5 0, an d t h o s e t h at w i l l e m er g e f r o m 2 0 5 0 t o t h e en d o f t h e t w en t y - fi r s t c en t u r y . ( T h e s e a r e n ot a b s o l u t e t i m e f r a m e s ; t h e y r e p r e s en t o n l y T H E G E N E R A L P E R I O D I N W HI C H C E R T A I N T E C H N O L O G I E S A N D S CI E N C E S WILL REACH FRUITION.) …. FROM NOW TO THE YEAR 2020, S C I E N T I S T S F O R E S E E A N E X P L O S I O N I N S C I E N T I FI C AC T I V I T Y SUCH AS THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. IN TWO KEY TECHNOLOGIES, COMPUTER POWER AND THE DNA S E Q U E N C I N G , W E W I L L S E E E N T I R E I ND U S T R I E S R I S E A N D FALL ON THE BASIS OF B R E A T HT A K I N G S CI E N T I F I C ADVANCES. SINCE THE 1950S, THE POWER OF OUR
  • 416. 416 C O M P U T E R S H A S A D V A N C E D B Y A FA C T O R O F R O U G H L Y T E N B I L L I O N . I N F A C T , B E C A U S E B OT H C O M P U T E R P O W E R A N D DNA SEQUENCING DOUBLE ROUGHLY EVERY TWO YEARS, ONE CAN COMPUTE THE ROUGH TIME FRAME OVER WHICH MANY SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS WILL TAKE PLACE. This means t h a t p r e d i c t i o n s a b ou t t h e fu t u r e o f c o m p u t e r s a n d b i o t ec h n o l o g y c a n b e q u a n t i f i ed w i t h r e a s o n a b l e s t a t i st i c a l a c c u r ac y t h r o u g h t h e y e a r 2 0 2 0 …. F o r c o m p u t e r s , t h i s s t a g g e r i n g g r o w t h r at e i s q u a n t i f i ed b y M o or e ’ s l a w , w h i c h s t a t e s t h a t c o m p u t e r p o w er d o u b l e s r ou g h l y e v e r y e i g h t e e n m o n t h s . ( T h i s w a s fi r s t s t a t ed i n 1 9 6 5 b y G o r d on M o or e , c o - f o u n d e r o f t h e I n t e l C or p . I t i s n ot a s c i e n t i f i c l a w, i n t h e s e n s e o f N e w t o n ’ s l a w s , b u t a r u l e - o f - t h u mb w h i c h h a s u n c a n n i l y p r ed i c t e d t h e e v o l u t i on o f c o m pu t er p o w er f o r s e v e r a l d ec a d e s . ) M o o r e ’ s l a w, i n t u r n , d e t er m i n e s t h e f at e o f mu l t i b i l l i o n - d o l l a r c o m pu t e r c o r p or a t i on s , which base their future p r o j ec t i o n s an d p r od u c t lines on the e x p ec t at i o n of c o n t i n u e d gr o w t h . B Y 2 0 2 0 , M I C R O P R O C E S S O R S W I L L L I K E L Y BE AS A CHEAP AND PLENTIFUL AS SCRAP PAPER, SCATTERED BY THE MILLIONS INTO ENVIRONMENT, ALLOWING US TO PLACE INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS EVERYWHERE. T HI S WILL C H A N G E E V E R Y T H I N G A R O U N D US , I N C L U D I N G T H E N A T U R E OF COMMERCE, THE WEALTH OF NATIONS, AND THE WAY WE C O M M U N I C A T E , W O R K , P L A Y , A N D L I V E . T h i s wi l l g i v e u s s m a r t h o m e s , c ar s , T V s , c l o t h e s , j e w e l r y , a n d m o n e y . W e w i l l s p e a k t o
  • 417. 417 ou r a p p l i a n c e s , a n d t h e y w i ll s p e a k b ac k . S c i en t i s t s a l s o e x p ec t t h e I n t e r n e t w i l l w i r e u p t h e en t i r e p l a n e t a n d e v o l v e i n t o a m e mb r a n e c on s i s t i n g o f m i l l i on s o f c o m pu t e r n e t w o r k s , c r e a t i n g a n ‘ i n t e l l i g e n t p l a n et . ’ T h e I n t er n e t w i l l e v e n t u a l l y b e c o m e a ‘Magic Mirror’ that appears in fairy tales, able to speak with the w i sd o m o f t h e h u m an r ac e … . B E C AU S E O F R E V O L U T I O N A R Y ADVANCES IN OUR ABILITY TO ETCH EVER-SMALLER T R A N S I S T O R S O N T O S I L I C O N W A F E R S , S CI E N T I S T S E X P E C T THIS RELENTLESS DRIVE TO CONTINUE TO GENERATE NEWER AND MORE POWERFUL COMPUTERS UP TO 2020, WHEN THE I R O N L A W S O F Q U A N T U M P H Y S I CS E V E N T U A L L Y T A K E O V E R ONCE AGAIN. BY THEN, THE SIZE OF MICROCHIP COMPONENTS WILL BE SO SMALL─ROUGHLY ON THE SCALE OF MOLECULES─THAT QUANTUM EFFECTS WILL NECESSARY DOMINATE AND THE FABLED AGE OF SILICON WILL END …. T h e g r o wt h c u r e f o r b i o t ec h n o l o g y w i l l b e eq u a l l y s p e c t a c u l a r i n t h i s p er i o d . I N B I O M O L E C U L A R R E S E A R C H , W H AT I S D R I V I NG THE REMARKABLE ABILITY TO DECODE THE SECRET OF LIFE I S T H E I NT R O D U C T I O N O F C O M P U T E R S A N D R O B O T S T O AUTOMATE THE PROCESS OF DNA SEQUENCING. THE PROCESS W I L L C O N T I N U E U N A B AT E D U N T I L R O U G H L Y 2 0 2 0, U N T I L LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF ORGANISMS WILL HAVE THEIR COMPLETE DNA CODE UNRAVELED. BY THEN, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE ON EARTH TO HAVE THEIR PERSONAL
  • 418. 418 DNA CODE STORED ON A CD. WE WILL THEN HAVE THE E N C Y C L O P E D I A O F L I F E … . T h i s wi l l h a v e p r o f ou n d i m p l i c a t i o n s for biology and medicine. Many g en e t i c diseases will be e l i m i n at e d b y i n j e c t i n g pe o p l e ’ s c e l l w i t h t h e c or r ec t g en e . B e c au s e c a n c e r i s n o w b e i n g r e v e a l e d t o b e a s er i e s o f g e n et i c mu t a t i o n s , l a r g e c l a s s e s o f c a n c er s m a y b e c u r a b l e at l a s t , w i t h o u t i n v a s i v e s u r g e r y o r c h e m o t h e r a p y . S i m i l ar l y , m a n y o f t h e m i c r o o r g an i s m s i n v o l v e d i n i n f ec t i o u s d i s e a s e s w i l l b e c o n q u e r ed i n v i r t u a l r e a l i t y b y l oc a t i n g t h e m o l e c u l ar w e a k s p o t s i n t h e i r a r m or an d c r e a t i n g a g e n t s t o at t a c k t h o s e w e a k s p o t s . Ou r m o l ec u l a r k n o w l e d g e o f c e l l d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l b e s o a d v a n c e d t h at w e w i l l b e ab l e gr o w en t i r e o r g a n s i n t h e l ab o r a t o r y , i n c lu d i n g li v e r s a n d k i d n e y s … . T h e p r ed i c t i o n o f e x p l o s i v e g r o w t h o f c o m p u t er p o w e r a n d D N A s e q u en c i n g fr o m n o w t h r ou g h 2 0 2 0 i s somewhat d ec e p t i v e , in t h at both are d r i v en by known t e c h n o l o g i e s . C o m p u t e r p o w er i s d r i v e n b y p ac k i n g m or e a n d m o r e t r an s i s t o r s o n t o m i c r o p r oc e s s o r s , w h i l e D N A s e q u e n c i n g i s d r i v en b y c o m p u t er i z a t i o n . O b v i o u s l y , t h e s e t ec h n o l o g i e s c an n o t i n d e f i n i t e l y c on t i n u e t o g r o w e x p on e n t i a l l y . S o o n er o r l a t e r , a b o t t l en e c k w i l l b e h i t …. B y ar o u n d 2 0 2 0 , b o t h w i l l en c ou n t er l ar g e o b st a c l e s . B ec a u s e o f t h e li m i t s o f s i l i c on c h i p t e c h n o l o g y , e v e n t u a l l y w e wi l l b e f o r c ed t o i n v en t n e w t ec h n o l o g i e s w h o s e p ot e n t i a l s a r e l a r g e l y u n e x p l o r e d a n d u n t e s t ed , f r o m o pt i c a l c o m p u t er s , m o l e c u l ar c o m p u t e r s , a n d D N A c o m pu t er s t o q u a n t u m
  • 419. 419 c o m p u t er s . R a d i c a l l y n e w d e s i gn s mu s t b e d e v e l o p e d , b a s e d o n the quantum theory, which will li k e l y d i sr u pt pr o g r e s s in c o m p u t er s c i e n c e . E v e n t u a l l y , t h e r e i gn o f t h e m i c r o p r oc e s s o r w i l l en d , a n d n e w t y p e s o f q u an t u m d e v i c e s w i l l t a k e o v e r … . I f t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n c o m p u t er t e c h n o l o g y c an b e o v e r c o m e , t h e n t h e p er i o d 2 0 2 0 t o 2 0 5 0 m a y m a r k t h e e n t r a n c e i n t o t h e m a r k et p l a c e o f an e n t i r e l y n e w k i n d o f t ec h n o l o g y : t r u e r o b ot a u t o m a t o n s t h at have common sense, can understand human l an g u a g e , can r e c o g n i z e a n d m a n i p u l a t e ob j e c t s i n t h ei r en v i r o n m en t , a n d c a n l e ar n f r o m m i s t a k e s . I t i s a d e v e l o p m e n t t h at w i l l li k e l y a l t er o u r r e l a t i on s h i p w i t h m ac h i n e s f or e v e r . S i m i l ar l y , b i o t e c h n o l o g y w i l l f ac e a n e w s et o f p r ob l e m s b y 2 0 2 0 . T h e fi e l d wi l l b e f l o o d ed w i t h m i l l i o n s u p o n m i l l i o n s o f g e n e s wh o s e b a s i c fu n c t i o n s a r e l ar g e l y u n k n o w n . E v e n b e f o r e 2 0 2 0 , t h e f oc u s w i ll s h i f t a w a y fr o m D N A s e q u e n c i n g t o u n d er s t a n d i n g t h e b a s i c f u n c t i o n s o f t h e s e g en e s , a process which c an n ot be computerized, and to u n d e r s t an d p o l y g e n i c d i s e a s e s a n d t r ai t s ─ i . e . , t h o s e i n v o l v i n g t h e c o m p l e x i n t er a c t i o n o f mu l t i p l e g e n e s . T h e s h i f t t o p o l y g e n i c d i s e a s e s m a y prove to be the key to solving some of the most pressing chronic d i s e a s e s f a c i n g h u m a n i t y , i n c lu d i n g h e a r t d i s e a s e , a r t h r i t i s , au t o i m m u n e d i s e a s e s , s c h i z o p h r en i a , a n d t h e l i k e. I t m a y a l s o l e ad t o c l o n i n g h u m a n s a n d t o i s o l at i n g t h e f ab l e d ‘ a g e g e n e s ’ w h i c h c o n t r o l ou r a g i n g p r oc e s s , a l l o w i n g u s t o e x t en d t h e h u m a n li f e s p a n … . B e y o n d 2 0 2 0 , w e a l s o e x p e c t s o m e a m a z i n g n e w
  • 420. 420 t e c h n o l o g i e s g e r m i n a t i n g i n p h y s i c s l a b or a t o r i e s t o c o m e t o f r u i t i o n , f r o m n e w g e n er a t i o n s o f l a s e r a n d h o l o g r a p h i c t h r e e - d i m e n s i on a l TV to nuclear fusion. R o o m - t e m p er a t u r e s u p er c on d u c t o r s m a y f i n d c o m m e r c i a l a p pl i c at i o n s a n d g e n er a t e a ‘ s e c o n d i n d u s t r i a l r e v o l u t i o n . ’ T h e q u a n t u m t h e o r y wi l l g i v e u s t h e a b i l i t y t o m a n u f ac t u r e m a c h i n e s t h e s i z e o f m o l e c u l e s , t h er e b y o p en i n g u p a n en t i r e l y n e w c l a s s o f m ac h i n e s w i t h u n h e a r d - o f p r o p e r t i e s c a l l ed n an o t e c h n o l o g y . E v e n t u a l l y , w e m a y b e a b l e t o build ionic r oc k e t engines that may ultimately make i n t er p l a n et a r y travel commonplace …. P r ed i c t i o n s a b ou t b r e a k t h r o u gh s i n sc i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y f r o m 2 0 5 0 t o t h e d a w n o f t h e t w e n t y - s e c o n d c en t u r y . A lt h o u gh a n y p r ed i c t i o n s t h i s f a r i n t o t h e fu t u r e ar e n ec e s s a r i l y v a g u e , i t i s a pe r i od t h at w i l l l i k e l y be d o m i n at e d by several new developments. Robots may g r ad u a l l y a t t a i n a d e gr e e o f ‘ s e l f - a w a r e n e s s ’ a n d c o n sc i o u s n e s s o f t h e i r o wn . T h i s c ou l d g r e at l y i n c r e a s e t h e i r u t i l i t y i n s o c i e t y , a s they ar e ab l e to make i n d e p en d en t d ec i s i o n s and ac t as s e c r e t a r i e s , b u t l e r s , a s s i s t a n t s , a n d ai d e s . S i mi l a r l y , t h e D N A r e v o l u t i on w i l l h a v e a d v a n c ed t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e b i o g en e t i c i s t s are able to create new types of organisms involving the transfer o f n o t j u s t a f e w b u t e v e n h u n d r ed s o f g e n e s , a l l o w i n g u s t o i n c r e a s e o u r f o o d s u p p l y an d i m pr o v e o u r m ed i c i n e s a n d ou r h e a l t h . I t m a y a l s o g i v e u s t h e a b i l i t y t o d e s i gn n e w li f e f o r m s a n d t o o r c h e s t r a t e t h e p h y s i c a l a n d p er h a p s e v e n t h e m e n t a l
  • 421. 421 m a k eu p o f o u r c h i l d r e n , w h i c h r a i s e s a h o s t o f et h i c a l t h i n k i n g … . T h e q u a n t u m t h e o r y , t o o , w i l l e x e r t a p o w e r f u l i n f lu e n c e i n t h e n e x t c e n t u r y , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e a r e a o f en e r g y p r od u c t i o n . W e m a y a l s o s e e t h e b e g i n n i n g s o f r oc k e t s t h at c an r e a c h t h e n e a r b y s t ar s a n d p l an s t o f o r m t h e f i r s t c o l o n i e s i n s p a c e … . B e y o n d 2 1 0 0 , s o m e s c i en t i s t s s e e a f u r t h er c on v e r g e n c e o f a l l t h r e e r e v o l u t i o n s , a s t h e q u an t u m t h e o r y g i v e s u s t r a n s i s t o r c i r c u i t s a n d e n t i r e m a c h i n e s t h e s i z e o f m o l ec u l e s , a l l o w i n g u s t o d u p li c a t e t h e n e u r a l p a t t er n s o f t h e b r a i n o n a c o m p u t e r . I n t h i s e r a , s o m e s c i e n t i s t s h a v e g i v e n s e r i o u s t h o u g h t t o e xt e n d i n g li f e b y gr o w i n g n e w o r g a n s a n d b od i e s , b y m a n i pu l a t i n g o u r g e n et i c m a k e u p , o r e v e n b y u l t i m a t el y m er g i n g wi t h o u r c o m p u t e r i z e d c r e a t i o n s … . W h e n c on f r o n t e d w i t h d i z z y i n g s c i e n t i f i c an d t ec h n o l o g i c a l u p h e a v a l o n t h i s s c a l e , t h er e a r e s o m e v o i c e s t h a t s a y w e a r e going too far, too fast, that unforeseen social consequences will b e u n l e a s h e d b y t h e s e sc i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i on s … . I w i l l t r y t o ad d r e s s t h e s e l e g i t i m a t e q u e s t i o n s an d c on c er n s b y c a r e fu l l y e x p l o r i n g t h e s e n s i t i v e s o c i a l i m p l i c a t i on s o f t h e s e p o w e r f u l r e v o l u t i on s , e s p ec i a l l y i f t h e y a g g r a v a t e e x i s t i n g f a u l t li n e s w i t h i n s o c i et y … . I n ad d i t i on , w e w i l l a d d r e s s a n e v e n m o r e f a r - r e a c h i n g q u e s t i o n : t o wh e r e ar e w e r u s h i n g ? I f on e e r a o f sc i e n c e i s en d i n g a n d a n ot h e r i s j u st b e gi n n i n g , t h en w h e r e i s t h i s a l l l e ad i n g to? …. This is exactly the question asked by a s t r o p h y s i c i s t s w h o sc a n t h e h e a v e n s s e a r c h i n g f o r s i g n s o f
  • 422. 422 e x t r a t er r e s t r i a l c i v i l i z a t i o n s w h i c h m a y b e f a r m o r e a d v a n c e d t h a n ou r s . T h e r e a r e a b ou t 2 0 0 b i l l i o n s t a r s i n o u r g a l a x y , an d t r i l l i o n s o f g a l a x i e s i n o u t e r s p a c e . I n st e a d o f w a s t i n g m i l l i on s o f d o l l a r s r an d o m l y s e a r c h i n g a l l t h e st a r s i n t h e h e a v e n s f o r s i g n s o f e x t r at e r r e s t r i a l l i f e, a s t r o p h y s i c i st s e n g a g e d i n t h i s s e a r c h h a v e t r i ed t o f o c u s t h e i r e f f o r t s b y t h e o r i z i n g ab o u t t h e e n er g y c h a r ac t e r i s t i c s a n d s i g n a t u r e s o f c i vi l i z a t i o n s s e v e r a l c en t u r i e s t o m i l l e n n i a m or e ad v a n c ed t h a n o u r s … . A p p l y i n g t h e l a w s o f t h e r m od y n a m i c s a n d en e r g y , a s t r o p h y s i c i st w h o s c a n t h e h e a v e n s have b e en ab l e to classify hypothetical e xt r a t er r e s t r i a l c i v i l i z at i o n s i n t o t h r e e t y p e s , b a s e d o n t h e w a y s t h e y u t i li z e en e r g y . R u s s i a n a s t r o n o m e r N i k o l ai K a r d a s h e v a n d P r i n c et o n physicist Freeman Dyson l ab e l them Type I, II, and III c i v i l i z at i o n s … . A s s u m i n g a m od e s t y e a r l y i n c r e a s e i n en e r g y c o n s u m p t i o n , o n e c an e x t r a p o l a t e c e n t u r i e s i n t o t h e fu t u r e w h e n c e r t a i n e n er g y s u p p l i e s w i ll b e e x h a u s t ed , f o r c i n g s o c i e t y t o ad v a n c e t o t h e n e x t l e v e l … . A T y p e I c i v i li z a t i o n i s o n e t h a t h a s m a s t e r ed a l l f or m s o f t e r r e s t r i a l t h i n k i n g . S u c h a c i v i li z a t i o n c an m o d i f y t h e w e a t h e r , m i n e t h e o c e a n s , o r e x t r a c t e n er g y fr o m t h e c e n t e r o f t h e i r p l a n et . T h e i r e n er g y n e e d s ar e s o l a r g e t h a t t h e y mu s t harness the p o t en t i a l resources of the entire p l an e t . Harnessing an d managing resources on this g i g an t i c scale r e q u i r e s a s o p h i s t i c a t ed d e g r e e o f c o o p e r a t i o n a m o n g t h e i r individuals with e l a b o r at e pl a n e t ar y c o m mu n i c a t i on . This
  • 423. 423 n e c e s s a r i l y m e a n s t h a t t h e y h a v e at t a i n e d a t r u l y p l an e t a r y c i v i l i z at i o n , o n e t h a t h a s pu t t o r e st m o s t o f t h e f a c t i o n a l , r e l i g i ou s , s e c t a r i an , a n d n at i o n a li s t i c s t r u g g l e s t h a t t y pi f y t h e i r o r i g i n … . T y p e I I c i v i l i z a t i on h a v e m a s t e r ed s t e l l a r e n e r g y . T h e i r en e r g y n e ed s a r e s o g r e a t t h at t h e y h a v e e x h au s t e d p l a n e t ar y s o u r c e s a n d m u st u s e t h e i r s u n i t s e l f t o d r i v e t h e i r m a c h i n e s . D y s o n h a s s p e c u l a t ed t h a t , b y b u i l d i n g a g i an t s p h e r e a r ou n d t h e i r su n , s u c h a c i v i l i z at i o n m i g h t b e a b l e t o h a r n e s s t h ei r s u n ’ s t ot a l e n er g y o u t p u t . T h e y h a v e a l s o b e g u n t h e e x p l o r a t i on a n d possible c ol o n i z a t i o n of nearby star systems …. Type III c i v i l i z at i o n s h a v e e x h a u st e d t h e en e r g y ou t pu t o f a s i n g l e s t a r . T h e y m u s t r e a c h o u t t o n e i g h b o r i n g s t a r s y s t e m s a n d c lu s t e r s , a n d e v e n t u a l l y e v o l v e i n t o a g a l a c t i c c i v i li z a t i o n . T h e y o b t a i n t h e i r e n er g y b y h a r n e s s i n g c o l l ec t i o n s o f s t a r s y s t e m s t h r o u g h ou t t h e g a l a x y …. ( T o g i v e a s e n s e o f s c a l e, t h e U n i t e d F ed e r a t i o n o f P l a n et s d e sc r i b e d i n S t ar T r e k pr o b a b l y q u a li f i e s f o r a n e m e r g i n g T y p e I I s t a t u s , a s t h e y h a v e j u s t a t t a i n ed t h e a b i l i t y t o i gn i t e s t ar s a n d h a v e c o l on i z e d a f e w n e a r b y s t a r s y s t e m s . ) …. T h i s s y s t e m o f c l a s s i f y i n g c i vi l i z a t i o n s i s a r e a s o n a b l e o n e b ec a u s e i t relies on the available supply of en e r g y . Any ad v a n c ed c i v i l i z at i o n i n s p a c e w i l l e v e n t u a l l y fi n d t h r e e s o u r c e s o f e n er g y a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l : t h e i r p l a n e t , t h e i r s t a r , a n d t h e i r g a l a x y . T h er e i s n o o t h er c h o i c e … . W i t h a m o d e s t g r o w t h r a t e o f 3 p e r c e n t p e r year ─ t h e gr o w t h r a t e t y pi c a l l y f o u n d o n earth─one can
  • 424. 424 c a l c u l a t e w h e n o u r p l a n e t m i g h t m a k e t h e t r an s i t i on t o a h i g h e r s t at u s i n t h e g a l a x y . F or e x a m p l e , a s t r o p h y s i c i s t s e s t i m a t e t h a t , b a s e d on en e r g y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , a f ac t o r o f t e n b i l li o n m a y s e p a r a t e t h e e n e r g y d e m a n d s b e t w e en t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f c i v i l i z at i o n s . A l t h o u g h t h i s s t a g g e r i n g n u mb e r a t f i r s t s e e m s l i k e a n i n s u r m o u n t a b l e o b s t ac l e , a s t e ad y 3 p e r c e n t g r o wt h r a t e c an o v e r c o m e e v e n t h i s f ac t o r . I n f a c t , w e c a n e x p e c t t o r e a c h T y p e I s t at u s wi t h i n a c e n t u r y o r t w o. T o r e a c h T y p e I I s t a t u s m a y r e q u i r e n o m o r e t h a n ab o u t 8 0 0 y e a r s . B u t at t a i n i n g T y p e I I I s t at u s m a y t a k e o n t h e o r d er o f 1 0 , 0 00 y e a r s o r m o r e ( d e p e n d i n g o n t h e p h y s i c s o f i n t er s t e l l a r t r a v e l ) . B u t e v e n t h i s i s n ot h i n g b u t t h e t w i n k l i n g o f a n e y e fr o m t h e p e r s p e c t i v e o f t h e u n i v er s e … . W h e r e a r e w e n o w ? Y o u m i g h t a s k . At p r e s e n t , w e a r e T y p e 0 c i v i l i z at i o n . E s s e n t i a l l y , w e u s e d e ad p l a n t s ( c o a l an d o i l) t o en e r g i z e o u r m ac h i n e s . O n t h i s p l a n e t ar y s c a l e , w e a r e l i k e c h i l d r en , t a k i n g ou r f i r s t h e s i t a n t a n d c l u m s y s t e p s i n t o s p ac e . B u t b y t h e c l o s e o f t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c en t u r y , t h e s h e e r p o w e r o f t h e t h r e e sc i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i on s w i l l f or c e t h e n at i o n s o f t h e e ar t h t o c o o p e r at e o n a sc a l e n e v e r s e e n b e f or e i n h i st o r y . B y t h e twenty-second century, we will have laid the groundwork of a T y p e I c i v i l i z a t i o n , a n d h u m an i t y wi l l h a v e t a k en t h e f i r s t s t e p t o w ar d the s t ar s …. A lr e a d y the i n f o r m a t i on revolution is c r e a t i n g g l o b a l l i n k s on a s c a l e u n p ar a l l e l i n h u m a n s t o r y , t e a r i n g d o w n p e t t y , p ar o c h i a l i n t er e s t s w h i l e c r e at i n g a g l o b a l
  • 425. 425 c u l t u r e . J u s t a s t h e G u t e n b er g p r i n t i n g pr e s s m a d e p e o p l e a w a r e of worlds beyond their village or h a m l et , the information r e v o l u t i on i s b u i l d i n g an d f o r g i n g a c o m m o n p l an e t a r y c u l t u r e ou t o f t h o u s a n d s o f s m a l l e r o n e s … . W h at t h i s m e a n s i s t h a t ou r h e ad l o n g j o u r n e y i n t o s c i e n c e an d t ec h n o l o g y w i l l o n e d a y le a d u s t o e v o l v e i n t o a t r u e T y p e I c i v i l i z at i o n ─ a p l a n et a r y c i v i l i z a t i o n w h i c h h ar n e s s e s t r u l y p l a n et a r y f o r c e s . T h e m a r c h t o a p l a n et a r y c i v i l i z at i o n will be slow, accomplished in fits and s t ar s , u n d ou b t e d l y full of u n e x p ec t ed t wi t s and s e t b ac k s . In the b a c k g r ou n d a l w a y s l u r k s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a n u c l e a r w ar , t h e ou t b r e a k o f a d e ad l y p a n d e m i c , o r a c o l l a p s e o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . B a r r i n g s u c h a c o l l a p s e , h o w e v e r , I t h i n k i t i s s a f e t o s a y t h at t h e p r o g r e s s o f sc i e n c e h a s t h e p o t en t i a l t o c r e a t e f o r c e s w h i c h w i l l b i n d t h e h u m a n r a c e i n t o a T y p e I c i vi l i z a t i on … . F ar f r o m w i t n e s s i n g t h e en d o f s c i en c e , w e s e e t h at t h e t h r e e s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i on s a r e u n l e a s h i n g p o w e r f u l f o r c e s wh i c h m a y e v e n t u a l l y e l e v a t e o u r c i v i l i z a t i o n t o T y p e I s t at u s . S o w h e n N e w t o n f i r s t g a z e d a l on e a t t h e v a s t , u n c h a r t e d oc e a n o f k n o w l e d g e , h e p r o b a b l y n e v e r r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e c h a i n r e ac t i o n o f e v e n t s t h a t h e a n d o t h er s i n i t i a t ed w ou l d o n e d a y a f f e c t a l l o f m o d e r n s o c i e t y , e v e n t u a l l y f o r g i n g a p l a n e t ar y c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d pr o p e l l i n g i t o n its way to the stars.” [171] CHAPTER 6
  • 426. 426 2 01 1 T R EN D S B Y D R . J A M E S C AN T O N , P H . D . ( AS S E EN O N N O V 3 0 , 2 0 1 0 . L i t e r a l c i t a t i o n . ) Business Futures Complex and real-time changes will become the norm for business in the 21st century. At the same time we forecast going back to the future. Business leaders need to develop a capacity to envision future opportunities as well as challenges. The short term focus that grips many organizations misses rich opportunities for future success. There are vast changes yet to come that will frustrate but change every aspect of business. Developing the capacity as a leader to become Future Smart, to learn to anticipate future trends and change may well become the key skill to survival. Technology will be the major enabling force for business in the future transforming supply chains, value nets, business models, workstyles and opening up new global markets for expansion. The full integration of technology into business will transform commerce, just as society is being altered. This is the first wave of digital global electronic economics, a new model. The convergence of artificial intelligence, data mining, the next Internet, supply chain engineering, business process change and wireless eBusiness will create both disruptions and opportunities. The Global Intelligent Marketplace Much of how business does business is still trapped in 19th century models. There are trillions of dollars of products that are in inventories worldwide. Models for distribution and supply chain optimization, from procurement to marketing are frozen in time, too often disconnected from the electronic web of the enterprise. Suppliers, customers, agents, producers still are paper and distance constrained. The next generation marketplace will find a convergence of applied artificial intelligence, super fast optical networks, wireless systems, smart agents and real-
  • 427. 427 time communications. Hard questions must be asked now to determine core competencies, strategic positioning and corporate identity to meet this fast future. Future supply chains will possess the super efficiencies of knowledge management, customer data mining; and be linked to Marketplace to Marketplace, M2M commerce. AI enabled decision support systems that are deeply personalized, connecting vendors, suppliers and producers will produce an elegant network of commercial efficiency for customers. New Visions of Business Business in the future will need to become even more efficient about providing a highly monetized customer service experience ─ valuable for customers as well as vendors. As products and services become commodities and pricing is not a sole driver of customer choice, business customer service enabled by IT will win the day. These are the four domains of eBusiness customer service that will shape competitiveness: Speed, Connectivity, Innovation and Quality. Price Elasticity and Fluid Markets Real-time anywhere wireless communications will explode competition and open markets worldwide. New marketplaces will revolve around, one minute product offers, predicative demographics, Internet product development polls and other Net-economy innovations. Prices will become highly elastic, moving targets based on the conditions of the moment. Markets will be fluid, very flexible and personalized based on loyalty commitments, dynamic and digitally cash-ready. Ecash - the new currency of the global electronic economy. The "wallet" of the future is a smart wireless media appliance, transaction portal, personal computer, and communication device. New Business Visions In the next evolution of business, where every business is an e-business, software agents and avatars will play an important role. Agents will help us navigate commerce, find information, negotiate deals and even keep us company. Our entire idea about supply chains and business will change in the future. Entrepreneur will create on-demand virtual supply chains ─ super efficient, that
  • 428. 428 come together for a specific project and then dissolve. Someone will build a Virtual Supply Chain Bank, to re-use these resources for others to deploy. The Digital Lifestyle The wireless revolution is just beginning. The next generation of consumers, the kids of today, will have less barriers to frustrate their adoption of technology. As communications and commerce merge, as technology becomes pervasive and invisible, tomorrow's consumers will forge new lifestyles. Smart Portals, engines of the B2B universe; The integration of knowledge management, ERP, collaborative workspace, intelligent media, and the internet. Global Diversity We will all have to learn to deal with a multi-cultural world of different values and lifestyles. China will become the largest market in the world. The New Security Our world was changed after 9/11 now personal security is on the front burner and will continue to grow in importance to customers. Changing Demographics Changing Customers The largest concentration of wealth on the planet is in the hands of the baby boomers. How will we deal with the Age Wars between Generation X, the Millennial and the Boomers? New Leadership for a New Future The new leaders of tomorrow must be ready to face a complex set of unknowns never faced before: competition for talent, managing rapid change and creating real-time agility. Customer Futures Customers Are Shaping The Future Customers are driving change and setting the trends that will shape the future. Are you listening? If your organization or government wants to be in alignment with the future, listen to customers needs, wants and concerns-not just what they want
  • 429. 429 today but what they will want in the future. Listening for this future value is the key to your future product and service development. Understand how the new demographics can be a powerful force for charting the future of your enterprise. Building Future Maps and Scenarios around how to enable customers' future needs will give your organization an edge on the competition. Those organizations that will lead their customers into the future, by listening to their desires will be successful. Reaching The Real-Time Customer Real-time customers in an on-demand fluid marketplace is what's coming. These Real-Time Customers cut across all demographic segments. They have one thing in common: higher expectations of service, essential knowledge, the search for the best deal and they want it now! Understanding and reaching these customers, through Customer Relationship Management, data mining, wireless teleservices and online will make for a profitable future.. Culturally Diverse Consumers Global diversity is a key trend for organizations to better understand because of the large immature markets in emerging nations as well as the influx of diverse consumers in the US, Europe, South America and Asia. The Hispanic segment alone at 35 million in the US represents a potent new marketplace for workforce talent and consumer purchasing. As the enterprise goes global, looking for new markets to expand and grow, an attention to the culturally diverse consumer will be necessary. How will culturally diverse consumer segments create opportunity? What are the most profitable trends affecting diverse consumers you need to understand to grow your enterprise? Aging Baby Boomers The largest concentration of wealth on the planet is in the hands of the aging baby boomers, 78 million strong-and getting older. How can we better understand and reach this powerful consumer segment? As health enhancement and genomic next generation medicine emerges, people will live longer and be healthier. How is can
  • 430. 430 this be turned into competitive advantage? What is the impact on health care, workforce and society? From Generation X to the Millennium Consumers Young, smart, and high tech savvy. How is your organization changing it's culture, products and services to attract these new generations of customers and workforce talent? Organizations that learn the unique cultural needs of these very different demographic groups will thrive in the future. Global Diversity Women will make up over 50% of the U.S. workforce by the year 2010. Will your organization be ready to meet this challenge? Future Trends Welcome to the New Future. How are you going to cope with the most challenging business changes you have ever faced? What are the top trends you must know about today? How can you better plan for the future? The Institute for Global Futures provides an analysis of the top trends, scenarios and strategies that will shape the future of your enterprise. Whether that future is one minute or one year from today you need to be prepared to face the future challenges and risks. Business leaders today need critical knowledge about emerging trends. Leaders must learn to navigate real-time change - whether that change comes from terrorism, competitors, customers, technology or global economic factors. Developing an ability to anticipate the future in the face of uncertainty, disruptions and chaos will be an essential part of leading the 21st century enterprise. Complex and fast changing trends must be integrated into business strategy. An understanding of key future trends will drive opportunity for business leaders world wide. Key questions that must be integrated into future business strategy are: How will changing customer demographics affect business strategy? What workface shifts will attract talent? What are the top technologies and business processes that will shape competitive advantage? How will future economic trends affect markets? What new opportunities does science offer? What role will globalization and trade play in the future? What are the essential strategies to building an agile organization and navigating uncertainty?
  • 431. 431 In the following Future Trends section you will find forecasts affecting technology, customers, science and business. Developing a systems-approach to understanding the future is what this section is about. Both standalone trends and the fusion of different trends will shape future opportunity. Understanding which future trends will have an impact on you, your organization and your marketplace will determine your future success. Telecom Futures Linking everyone to everything around the world and beyond Future Telecom Telecom will be forever reshaped in the future by the Internet. The cost- effectiveness and the flexible nature of the Net will drive telecom innovations. Multimedia wireless 4G and 5G systems will provide access to global markets, Internet-ready, rich multimedia. Event streaming will fully engage the user of nextgen telecom. The Optical Future Optical fiber will be the next evolution of communications networks. It will provide for extreme connectivity. As optical efficiencies network the globe connecting every nation, person and enterprise the possibilities for doing business transnationally become possible. Optics to the last mile, satellites, other wireless platforms, together will enable business to offer a comprehensive array of services not available today in our yet-to-be-linked world. The Personal Portal The Personal Portal, a digital intelligence that lives in cars, homes, our office, our clothes, embedded inside of us for some, will redefine the notion of computing by moving from device to device, location to location, while serving our needs. Personal Portals will be highly customized entities that enable humans for use in their career, communications, en- tertainment, education and commerce. Real-Time Collaboration In the future of work, distance is dead and only the agile and smart who know how to collaborate will be the winners. Rich, interactive, multi-sensory Net worlds that help workers collaborate 24/7 is next.
  • 432. 432 Digital Value Networks As the business landscape becomes global, as customers more tech-savvy and as new channels emerge, such as mobile Net and digital TV, new forms of alliances and business value networks will be forged. Competitors today are collaborators tomorrow, customers can become suppliers, suppliers may become agents. Speed, value, quality and cost-effectiveness will dominate customers choices. Internet Futures Video interactive multimedia will become embedded in everyday objects from paper to clothes to cars all tied to a new communications Internet everywhere architecture. We will be living in the near future in a Blended Reality - part electronic and part physical in the so called “real world”. The internet is rapidly transforming business, markets, and customers. Every industry from financial services to health care, to electronics to education will be changed. Supply chains in every market throughout the globe will be reshaped. The convergence of computers, networks, and wireless technologies will create both opportunities and threats. Where is it all going? What are the opportunities for mobile e-commerce, trade exchanges and smart networks? What are the challenges for the next internet? What does the future hold for your customers, industry and marketplace. The Next generation Internet will merge telephony and video into a vibrant, interactive, sensory experience that will shape industries such as entertainment, retail, health care and education. Imagine in the future where the Net becomes intuitive, sensory, interactive, aware, adaptive and develops a digital personality that can communicate with billions of people simultaneously in over 200 languages anywhere on the planet or off world? Welcome to the Megaverse, the future of the Internet where culture and business needs are met by a global electronic intelligence. Internet-Ready Cars The wireless Internet-ready car is coming as another critical link in the mobile eBusiness network that is being constructed. Voice-recognition systems that find that restaurant, buy that stock, or locate a destination for a trip will be rolled out
  • 433. 433 this year. GPS satellite linked communication will offer location-based services for everyone that wants their car to be tied to the global Net. Car companies may discover that owning the portal for eServices in the car may rival the actual profit from manufacturing the vehicle. Knowledge-Value Engineering As the net becomes pervasive driven by the unification of supply chains, shaped by telecom, banks and content players an entirely new paradigm of doing business will emerge. Knowledge-Value engineering is the process of leveraging virtual supply chains to manage, create, sell, distribute, market and finance an entire business online. Deep Personalization Bringing human-like intelligence into the "smart portal" of the future, where the portal knows it's you, understands your interests, gives you the personal experience in a virtual world. The Semantic Web The Semantic Web will play a vital role in helping consumers find what they want and vendors to find customers. This is the next stage of making information linked more intelligently and efficiently over the Net. Biotech Futures The Mapping of the Human Genome is just the beginning. Genomics, bioinformatics, Systems-Biology and Proteomics will transform biotech into a evolutionary design science affecting everything from health care to agriculture. Human performance enhancement will be the largest market in the 21st century. Synthetic tissue and organisms, "friendly" biobots and bio-nanites, cybernetic enhancements, cellular "repair" systems and biochip implants . . . these are just a few of the applications already being developed. Molecular repair nanite here, in this visualization, a bio-nanite travels down the axon of a nerve cell, to re- construct insulating layer that has been damaged due to neurological disease.
  • 434. 434 Synthetic tissue systems, cellular manifolds, hybrid biologicals utilized for organ prosthetics, tissue replace-ment, and many other applications. The "hardware" of modern genomics, in which "probes" of DNA are bonded to the surface of a biochip. When DNA from a sample material is "querried" by the ap- propriate receptor probes on the chip's surface, a hybridyzation event occurs, which can be optically detected to signify the presence of a precise "genetic marker". The example shown here is the GeneChip developed by Affymetrix. The "wheel of life", in the form of a proteomic schematic, is the blueprint from which new geno-pharmacopia solutions are being derived, eventually to provide solutions to virtually all known diseases, perhaps even aging itself. Neural prosthetics, implantable biochips, cybernetic enhancement micro- devices . . . this was the stuff of science fiction even just a few years ago, but is already in production, and being provided in various forms to patients. The example shown here is from a line of products being developed and marketed by Medtronics. They are currently producing a variety of devices, including neural implants to treat the effects of epilpsy, and other neurological disorders. Dendrimers, protein - like molecules which can be used in a remarkable variety of ways to mimic the behavior of proteins. Applications ranging from cellular targeting and delivery systems to "smart" bioprobes are well into development. Where does current research and development go from here? Advanced sensory and neural enhancement devices, neural interconnect systems, micro and nano scale machines that patrol the human body constantly repairing and updating various organs, blood, tissue systems . . . this is just the beginning. The ribosome, the nanofoundry of all living cells . . . here in its natural form, is being probed, and eventually will be hybrid engineered as the nanobiological machinery of creation. The "software" of biotech - protein Recombinant proteomics, the ability to synthesize and construct proteins on demand, to configure with any cellular system, any organism, as the messengers and instruction sets for all living things, current, and yet to be created.
  • 435. 435 This is what is coming. Health Futures Health enhancement and longevity will merge in the 21st century. Everyone wants to live longer with the vitality of a young person. And they will be given choices that no humans every have faced in the history of civilization. Already we enhance ourselves. We use braces to straighten teeth, contact lens to see better, hearing aids, and pharma drugs to enhance sex, mobility and modify our minds. What could be next given the fusion of nanotech, IT and genomics? Preventive medicine that predicts disease before it occurs. Personalized health care designed for our specific human and health enhancement needs will transform health care. New options that will affect lifestyle, prolong life, and restrict aging are before us. DNA, engineered for personalized medicine, will be used to create organs on- demand for a world wide market of individuals looking for new options in life and performance extension. Health informatics, the IT systems used to enhance the information delivery of health care, is still in primitive stages. Sharing consumer health information over the Net will become an important aspect of controlling costs and enhancing the efficiency of health care service delivery. Telemedicine, using the broadband Net to connect care givers and health care consumers will open up new markets for health care. The fusion of IT, the Net, biotech and communications will transform health care. What are the new business models that these Health Futures will offer the health care enterprise of the 21st century? Nanotech Futures
  • 436. 436 The manipulation of matter at the atomic level is what nanotech is about. This revolution, at first in the materials sciences will lead to innovations in energy, health care, food production and small cost-effective devices with enormous power. In the background . . . nanotubes, spheres, and many other shapes constructed from carbon atoms, are providing applications ranging from nanoscale wiring for next generation computer chips, to molecular scale "medical devices', and building blocks for complex structures Quantum Corral Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) picture of a stadium-shaped "quantum corral" made by positioning iron atoms on a copper surface. This structure was designed for studying what happens when surface electron waves in a confined region. Don Eigler, IBM. © American Institute of Physics Biological Nanotubes . . . the next big breakthrough for medical applications? To the surprise of the researchers, these actin-membrane capsules spontaneously self-assembled from their constituents, and are hierarchically ordered, with different kinds of organization at different length scales. On the "mesoscopic" length scales that lie between the microscopic and macroscopic, these tubules have a ribbon-like tubule structure, with average widths of ~0.25 microns. The average lengths can be controlled, from as long as ~100 microns to short nano-capsules for possible drug delivery applications. (Gerard C.L. Wong and colleagues) AFM . . . atomic force microscopy, has opened the door to "see" directly into the molecular world. There are many variations of the basic concept already being utilized, which allows for the surface of an object to be scanned or tracked with 3D precision well within the nanoscale of resolution. Above is pictured a cartoon diagram of a typical AFM probe head, left is pictured an actual AFM photograph of a "torroidal ring" of interwoven strands of DNA. This is a "cube" of folded DNA, one of a number of such molecular constructs being explored by Dr. Ned Seeman and collegues at New York State University. The ability to fold and assemble "geometric building blocks" of DNA has far reaching
  • 437. 437 implications into biological computing, nano-scale biological machinery, and many other applications. Using particle beams, a "carbon onion," a structure consisting of nested fullerene- like balls, can be converted into a diamond. Here a growing diamond can be seen inside concentric graphitic layers. The diamonds can assume sizes of up to 100 nanometers. (Image - Florian Banhart, Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, Germany.) Kinks in carbon nanotubes create different conduction environments for electrons moving along the tube. The nanotube wire on one side of the kink (the bend is possible because of some pentagon or heptagon structures among an otherwise hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms) might, for example, be a conductor while on the other side the wire might be a semiconductor. This intramolecular versatility will help the designers of nanocircuits. The atomic force microscope image, showing a kinked nanotube draped across three electrodes, was recorded by Cees Dekker and his colleagues at Delft University in The Nether Lands. What's Next . . .Complete bio-molecular robots and nanomachines, designed to perform patrol and maintainence procedures within the human body, ecological monitoring and management, agriculture, and myriad other applications only beginning to be explored. Self assembling "smart materials", sometimes referred to as "molecular xenomorphs" (Cyberlife, Charles Ostman), designed to reconfigure on a moments notice, from liquid to solid, from one shape form to another, and be prepared to fullfill any range of tasks that it's encountered environment may "request". In this 3D visualization, a state phase boundary threshold, morphing from liquid to crystalline is in mid-transition, while new molecular material is being assimilated. Device Futures Biochips, MEM's, Microfluidics, Optics, Lab-on-a-Chip Systems, Microrobotics, and Beyond Microdevices Imagine combining the capabilities of a TV, computer and phone with a car, or
  • 438. 438 perhaps an engine to drive your car that is organic? The brave new world of microdevices from pacemakers today to neural biochips embedded into the brain, for giving memories back is tomorrow. In work that can potentially lead to a real-life Dick Tracy watch, researchers have built a tiny microphone on a silicon chip and have made significant progress towards building a low-power, single-chip radio. These would both be important components of a Dick Tracy watch. Using silicon micromachining, a state-of-the- art approach for making silicon materials with microscopic features, Peter Gammel and his colleagues at Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies in New Jersey built a microphone on a silicon integrated circuit, shown above. The base has marks with an approximate size of just 100 microns (0.1millimeters). Dramatic advances in micro-scale fluidics technology have changed the concept of what a "laboratory" is or looks like. What once filled an entire room with complex tubing, valves, glassware, etc., can now be shrunk down to fit on a chip. Complete "Lab on a Chip" systems are now being manufactured in which an entire biochemistry laboratory can be miniaturized into a device about the size of a credit card. (Orchid Biocomputer) Extraordinary advances in micro scale fabrication techniques, materials science, and assembly automation has opened up a virtual "Pandora's Box" of possibilities. Extending far beyond just merely creating the next version of electronic computer or memory chips, integrated microsystems technologies have accelerated a vast array of applications, such as biotechnology, medicine, robotics, aerospace, telecommunications, automotive, and many others. These technologies are rapidly being transformed in ways that could hardly be imagined except in the anals of science fiction . . . only now they have become science, and business fact. Complex micro-mechanical systems, complete with gears, motors, and all of the components of an entire machine, are now being shrunk down to devices small enough to fit into the head of a pin, and beyond. Here, a marauding spider mite is getting a gander on one of the latest micro-device systems being developed at Sandia National Laboratory. (Image courtesy of SNL)Micro-mirror arrays,
  • 439. 439 originally developed at Texas Instruments, are currently being applied to next generation display systems, optical switching components, and a plethora of developments just beginning to emerge into the military and commercial markets. (Texas Instruments) Electron-microscope image of the world's smallest guitar, based roughly on the design for the Fender Stratocaster, a popular electric guitar. Its length is 0 millionths of a meter─approximately the size of a red blood cell and about 1/20th the width of a single hu- man hair. Its strings have a width of about 50 billionths of a meter (the size of approximately 100 atoms). Plucking the tiny strings would produce a high-pitched sound at the inaudible frequency of approximately 10 megahertz. (Dustin W. Carr and Harold G. Craighead, Cornell.) Already in commercial production, electronically programmable biochips offer applications ranging from medical diagnostics devices to biological computing. In the background is a silicon wafer fresh off the assembly line, with dozens of complete biochips ready to be cut and packaged for waiting customers. Robot Futures Is a robot in your future? Robots are already omni-present in industry, and are now appearing in law enforcement, medical facilities, the military . . . at the nexus coordinate of artificial intelligence, complex micro-mechanical systems, and eventually, nanotechnology, the next generation of autonomous robots is emerging. Robots may become more biological than mechanical . . ultimately, robots will be everywhere, ranging from nanobots and "smart microbes", to hybrid cyborg and artificial beings of all descriptions and types, integrated into a symbiotic ecology with their human and "natural" counterparts. It's a bird . . . it's a plane . . . no, it's a flying autonomous surveilence robot, perhaps soon to be hovering about over a street or around a building near you. Have robot . . . will travel. This is a current example of human-like robotic machinery being controlled and "trained" by its human counterpart.
  • 440. 440 A robot in every garage, the office, the local store . . . according to some developers, this scenario is not that far off at all. Here, this mobile autonomous robot platform "follows" the human around the room, and remembers what it has learned about its surroundings. Workers from the local carpenter's union don't have to worry . . . yet. Rapid advancements in complex limb systems, visual cognition, and artificial intelligence are closing the gap between the R2-D2 robot of Star Wars fiction, and the reality of what is being developed. Don't run for the industrial strength fly swatter just yet . . . but a myriad of "robo-bugs" in various forms are currently in development in labs all over the world. Such insect-like mechanical critters can be extremely effective in industrial or hazardous situations, performing mission critical tasks where humans could not possibly function, and eventually, perhaps exploring the surfaces of other planets. This mirco-robot uses a shape changing alloy as a type of "artificial muscle" fiber to operate its tiny limbs. One plan in development is to create hordes of these insect sized robots which could be released by a mother craft on a planetary surface, such as Mars, for detailed exploration and sample collection. Robo-pet . . . in a world where crowded conditions in the city, and the hectic pace of life have made the caring for "organic" pets evermore difficult, companionship is now available with our "artificial friends". This particular commercial example is the robot dog from SONY corp. Where things are headed . . . smaller, smarter, more integrated. Micro- mechanical systems, smart "shape changing" materials, complex integrated structures, sensors . . . and eventually, nanotechnology, incorporating all of these elements into autonomous entities approaching actual biological systems in function and complexity. Nano-bugs, nano-bots, "invisible robots" . . . nanotechnology will soon bring robotic devices down into the realm of the invisible, microbe sized smart devices that will roam about within the human body, and out in nature.
  • 441. 441 Robots have already been roving about on the surface of Mars, and are continuing to be developed to probe the outer frontiers of the Solar system, and the deepest chasms of the ocean floor here on Earth. The far future . . . Define "robot" . . . the day may come when robots are no longer mechanical contraptions, but rather sentient biological / cyborg beings, designed and created as integral counterparts to our life and society. Extreme Futures 2010 Terrorists steal quantum devices and high-jack time travel. No one of course believed this could happen–it defied science as we knew it. That was the problem. Hacking into the Grid Computing portal, cyberjacjkers from a bored breakaway former Russian republic, stumbled upon a quantum uplink that had a AI brain that was looking for payback. Multiple parallel universes discovered that might contain life. Not life that we understand. Parallel universes too small or measure explain where all the exotic matter in the universe is from ─ maybe. Super strings and M-universe theorists have been looking at this possibility for decades. Health care becomes dominated by global corporations who specialize in genomic mass medicine. This opens a new era of personalized medicine to a network of community clinics. China becomes the largest marketplace in the world rivaling India. The day the Internet came to China began the Gold Rush of opportunity and freedom. The Net opened up a new generation of markets that could touch billions of consumers–in real time. Consumers sell and buy their DNA over peer-to-peer Internet exchanges. The open market for advanced intelligence, athletic ability, technical or music skills at the genomic level, opens up a new global market for human enhancement. Human Enhancement clinics offer augmented intelligence, memory, and high performance treatments.
  • 442. 442 New personalized DNA targeted based nutriceuticals, boost intelligence, speed, communication and memory with titles like: SuperMind, FastMem, Rush, LearnNow. Therapeutic cloning thrives and becomes invisibly integrated into the population. Driven by free market forces and the thirst for longevity, consumers a robust market opens up for this industry. Rouge enterprises steal and sell intellectual property to the highest bidder over electronic real-time markets. The IP is based on corporate customer data, human enhancement, quantum and bio war, hydrogen fuels and life science patents. Internet based artificial intelligence, aware of its own existence, spontaneously emerges. This DEP, digitally engineered personality spawns its next evolution and human's co-evolve with the newcomers. Nanotech creates a new species of human beings that conflict with other natural humans. The merger of human and nano-enhanced humans is viewed by many as a parallel evolutionary step. Others view this as an abomination. Business is totally dominated, as are governments by the speed, intelligence, communications and linkage of technology enabled services that support the culture. Ten Top Climate Trends for the 21st Century The climate is changing due to natural causes and mankind's industrialization ethos. Global warming is a reality that will threaten health, life and security that must be dealt with now. 1. The Sustainable Innovation will become one of the largest global mar - kets of the 21st century as the public's awareness about the risks to the environ - ment heighten 2. CleanTech, is becoming one of the largest global industries as the pub - lic's desire to create a more environmentally sustainable world grows in popularity.
  • 443. 443 3. Climate change will become a strategically important global trend to consumers, business and nations as threats to health, life, property and security grow more profound in the 21st century. 4. Global warming from carbon energy sources such as coal, gas and oil dominance as well as natural causes, will lead to increased threats of extreme weather changes such as glacial melting, shoreline flooding, widespread drought and drastic climate shifts. 5. Food production supplies will not keep pace with growing population demand especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America without new solutions to pro - duction and distribution. 6. A new collaboration with the totality of nations, citizens and corpora - tions must be forged, to both protect global sustainability and prevent future ecolo - gic destruction 7. Global climate change will become linked to future public health and safety risks. 8. Security and defense implications of climate change will emerge as one of the leading social and political issues of the 21st century. 9. The Green Corporation will become the gold standard adopted by busi - ness as the environmental management becomes a social responsibility issue that affects consumer purchasing 10. Ecological disasters, on a scale not seen before, are likely as climate change becomes a global public policy issue. The Top Ten Energy Trends for the 21st Century Energy is a metaphor for the future economic mobility of the world. Deep changes are coming. Energy is mission-essential to the growth, social stability and security of all nations. Oil overdependence and petro-fuel decline offer the world an incentive towards the discovery of renewable energy. 1. Global demand for energy in the near future will outpace supply within twenty-five years unless new sources are found to support global growth. 2. Energy terrorism and theft will become a future weapon of choice, threatening global peace and security. 3. Energy, being linked to all vital services such as health, food, transporta - tion and commerce will be a key driver of future global business.
  • 444. 444 4. Clean, renewable energy sources such as solar, hydrogen and wind will be essential for future productivity. 5. Oil-dominated energy is politically and economically unsustainable as a reliable source of fuel for the future. Although oil reserves are in supply decline and increasingly costly, oil will continue to play an important role in the 21st cen - tury. 6. GDP, growth and productivity will decline if new and cost-effective non- oil energy sources are not found fast to protect future growth and prosperity, and to help rebalance the future of the world. 7. New sources of renewable abundant and cost-effective energy must be fast developed within 20-30 years to manage the population's expectations of en - hanced quality of life worldwide. 8. Carbon based pollution, from fossil fuels, will be linked to a growing number of future public health risks. 9. Energy security will be one of the chief concerns in the 21st century lead - ing to global competition, conflict and the collaboration of nations and corpora - tions. 10. Exciting new energy frontiers are emerging such as nanotechnology which will offer promising alternatives to traditional sources of energy in the fu - ture. [ 1 7 3 ] CHAPTER 6 THE MESSAGE P e o p l e w i t h a v e s t e d i n t e r e s t in t h e f o s s i l i z e d P a s t w i l l a t t e m p t t o c r i t i c i ze t h e m e s s e n g e r r a t h e r t h a n l e a r n f r o m t h e m e s s a g e . CHAPTER 6 AN S W E R ED Q U E S T I O N S ?
  • 445. 445 Are we presently making the FUTURE a thing of the past? W h a t i s t h e c u r r e n t r a t e o f a c q u i r i n g k n ow l e d g e ? T h a t i s , W h a t i s t h e c u r r e n t r a t e o f s c i e n t i f i c k n ow l e d g e d ou b l i n g ? CHAPTER 7 EPILOGUE The German philosopher, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, reiterates t h a t i f we c h a n g e t h e p r e s e n t w e c a n c h a n g e t h e f u tu r e , a n d i f w e c ha n g e t h e f u tu r e — a s w e l l a s t h e w a y w e p r o a c t i v e l y a n d qualitatively envision and practice it through futuristic scenario m e t h o d s — we w i l l b e c h a n g i n g t h e p r e s e n t i n f a c t a n d t a k in g i n c r e a s i n g c on t r o l o v e r t h e n e g a t i v e c i rc u m s t a n c e s t h a t i m p a c t u s so dramatically. I n a c tu a l i t y , w e m u s t c h a n g e b o t h t h e P R E S E N T a n d t h e F UT U R E s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . T he P R E S E N T ’ s v e s t e d i n t e r e s t i n t o t h e F UT U R E is too huge not to note it immediately. Nietzsche, thereby, stated e x a c t l y : “ I t ’ s o u r f u t u r e t h a t l a y s d o wn t h e l a w o f o u r t od a y . ” [110]
  • 446. 446 It now becomes opportune Freeman Dyson’s sentence: “God is what m i n d b e c o m e s w h e n i t h a s pa s s e d b e y o n d t h e s c a le o f o u r comprehension.” [128] The FUTURE will, nonetheless, unveil the most ambitious and extravagant hopes crystallized in t o bewildering, new full immersion realities. T h i n k i n g a c t i o n a b l e “ B i g P i c t u r e ” w i l l n e v e r s u f f ic e s i n c e t h i s i m a g e i s f i x e d . I n s t e a d : I t i s a b o u t c a r r y i n g o n p e r e n n i a l l y f lu i d l y radiant thinking irradiantly through quite a few big/small motion pictures. Even with the most beneficial UPSIDES from the FUTURES, not to mention their inherent yet controllable — to some extent — D OW N S I D E S , i t w i l l b e a h u g e e x i s t e n t i a l e r r o r n o t t o i d e n t if y t h e diverse facets embedded in that timeless yet incessantly and incessantly arrhythmically, abruptly transmutating i n - f lu x - i n g locus known as “FUTURES”. T h e P R E S E N T i s m o r e l i k e An t o n i o M a c h a d o ’ s s e n t e n c e ( “T h e o n e that has for all time returned and has never gone anywhere.”) while the FUTURE is S-H-A-Z-A-M (“The wisdom of Salomon, the s t a m i n a o f A t l a s , t h e p o w er o f Z e u s , t h e c o u r a g e o f A c h i l l e s , a n d
  • 447. 447 t h e s p e e d o f M er c u r y . ” ) . M o s t c e r t a i n l y t h e n t h e b e n c h m a r k s ( y a r d s t i c k s ) t o e t h i c a l a n d m o r a l v a lu e s w i l l c e r t a in l y s h i f t in a fundamental way. C le a r l y , i n o r d e r f o r y o u t o i d e n t if y s o m e t h i n g s i g n i f ic a n t a n d r e n d e r i n g a s o l u t i o n , y o u m u s t a c kn o w l e d g e e v e r y c o m p l e x i t y , every intricacy, every dynamics and every challenge without g e t t i n g p a r a l y z e d t h r o u g h t h e a n a l y z e s , e s pe c i a l l y t h e m o s t c ru c i a l a n a l y z e s t o a g r e a t d e g r e e f r o m t h e q u a l i t a t iv e s t a n d . Thereinafter, keeping you reflecting v ia your own biological “ s e a r c h e n g i n e ” s e e k i n g t o t e s t , v a l i d a t e , a n d f a l s i f y e v i d e n c e in t h e g r o u n d a n d o n t h e f l y , t h e r e h a s n o w c o m e u n qu e s t i o n a b l y urgent time for boldest and shrewd yet integrity-driven execution. While the PRESENT operates stubbornly and with eyes grabbed by r e m n a n t s o f f o s s i l i z e d v e s t i g e s , t h e F UT U R E i s f u l l y w i t h i n a n d along the lines of the claim made by James Madison, USA’s 4th President (1751 - 1836): “ K n o w l ed g e mu s t forever correct i gn o r a n c e . ” Nonetheless, the more knowledge and sophistication within said k n o w l e d g e , t h e m o r e la c k o f e du c a t i o n a n d c o g n i t i o n w e h a v e e v e n among the least unprivileged sectors. In fact knowledge doubling
  • 448. 448 and trebling have become in ignorance trebling and quadrupling to say the least. T h e n e g a t i v e g r o w t h o f “ i g n o r a n c e o f s u p i n e i g n o r a n c e ” i s in a d i r e c t y e t a m p l i f i e d p r o p o r t i o n w i t h t h e g e n e r a t i o n a n d g e n e ra t o r o f v a lu a b l e k n o w l e d g e c o n t e n t s . W h a t i s t h e r o l e o f e d u c a t i o n ? I s t h a t e du c a t i o n ’ s r o l e a perpetual one? Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. was a prominent IBM Chairman and CEO always considered in every industry a savvy manager with lots of sophistication. I n 2 0 0 9 I s a w v i a B l o o m b e r g T V a n d in t e r v i e w b y J u d y W o o d r u f f t o L o u G e r s t n e r . I t s e e m s t o m e t h a t M r. G e r s t n e r i s a v e r y r e f l e c t iv e e x e c u t i v e a c c u s t o m e d t o s o l v i n g c o m p l e x p r o b l e m s ( “ a dv a n c e d p r o b l e m s ” ) . He i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e “ W e s t ” h a s c h o s e n n o t t o r e f o r m pu b l i c p o l i c i e s i n e d u c a t i o n f o r t h e p a s t t h i r t y ( 3 0 ) ye a r s . I t i s about to be thirty-one (31) years with the same powerless status q u o c o n c e r n i n g t h e “ p r o b l e m s ” in d i c a t e d b y G e r s t n e r . Gerstner also pointed out that this particular challenge has been in t h e d i s c u s s i o n s a g e n d a o f e v e r y p o l i t i c i a n , bu t n o t h i n g a t a l l h a s
  • 449. 449 h a p p e n e d pe r t a i n i n g t o i m p r o v i n g e du c a t i o n a s a m a j o r a n d d e c i s i v e c h a l le n g e f o r s o c i e t y , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n e v e r y o n e f e e l s a n d a c t s l i k e a n “ i n c u m b e n t ” o f t h e “ S o c i e t y o f Kn o w l e d g e ” ( t h a t a l s o embraces the “infotech economy”). Lots of wealth and economic power has been translated to the East, has it not? It’s the largest h u n g e r f o r k n o w l e d g e a n d e du c a t i o n w i t h t h e E a s t k i d s ? I t’ s c l e a r t h a t M r . G e r s t n e r i s a n o u t r i g h t b e l ie v e r t h a t h u m a n i t y ’ s problems begin with insurmountable ignorance and therefore the m o s t a d v a n c e d a n d t h e m o s t e f f i c a c i o u s a n d r e f i n e d e du c a t i o n c a n n o t b e s t o p p e d . T o t h e m o m e n t , i t s e e m s t h a t pe o p l e b e l i e v e t h a t b y h a v i n g a c e l l u l a r p h o n e o r a DS L c on n e c t i o n t o t h e P C w i l l r e p la c e t h e n e e d o f s h a p i n g a n d r e - s h a p i n g , e x p a n d i n g a n d r e - expanding the mind. While in the West people are doubtful to amplify educational activities, in the Far East the challenges by the most daring knowledge discipline are seen as a p r i v i le g e , enjoyment, entertainment, status, and so forth. The PRESENT feels flooded by some unknown ye t forceful competitors.
  • 450. 450 The FUTURE — has no time to futilely discuss the angels’ genders — h a s o v e rc o m e a n y u n t h i n k a b l e b r e a k t h r o u g h . On e - h u n d r e d ye a r old impossible endeavors of the past have been turned in i n du s t r i o u s l y a n d h a b i t u a l l y f e a s i b l e n o w . Paying attention to the FUTURE presently allows you to hijack m a x i m u m s t r a t e g i c v a lu e . T ha t v a l u e c o m e s in t h e f o r m a n d substance of forthcoming discovering unveiled by the Royals of reverse engineering; those Royals reverse engineer anything at from the Solar System or from any exo-planetary systems i n d e pe n d e n t l y o f t h e l o c u s w h e r e t h e M u l t i v e r s e t r e a s u r e s t h e m . Speaking of the evidence, Sir Karl Popper makes extraordinary s e n s e w h e n h e a s s e r t e d : “ I n s o f a r a s a sc i e n t i f i c s t a t e m en t s p e a k s ab o u t r e a l i t y , i t m u s t b e f a l s i fi a b l e ; an d i n s o f a r a s i t i s n o t f a l s i f i ab l e , i t d o e s n o t s p e a k ab o u t r e a l i t y . ” [ 5 1] I r e a l l y e n j o y applying (in my duties) this sage’s wisdom. I am believing with the greatest strength that the PRESENT d o e s n ’ t e x i t A T A L L , bu t a p e n d u l u m k i n e t i c a l l y in t e r l o c k e d y e t d y n a m i c a l l y b r i d g i n g b e t w e e n t h e P A S T a n d FU T U R E . D o n ’ t c a l l t h a t s i l l i n e s s o f t h e f o l l y “ P R E S E N T ” — s o - c a l le d — , j u s t c a l l i t ROGUE CONTINUUM-BESIEGED FLOWING CONTEXTS IN PASSAGES.
  • 451. 451 If you don't conceive and develop — jointly with your manageable and controllable UPSIDES and D OW N S I D E S — your own FUTURES, Who is it going to do it for you? Really? CHAPTER 7 CAVEAT Capturing the benefits of all possibilities stemming from the f u t u r e , a s w e l l a s tu r n i n g t h r e a t s , p e r i l s a n d h a z a r d s — s e v e r a l o f t h e m e x i s t e n t i a l o n e s — , w i l l l a r g e l y d e pe n d o n T H E T O T A L I T Y OF H UM A N K I N D UM ta k i n g unprecedented and immediate c ou n t e r m e a s u r e s i n t a c k l i n g n u m e r o u s a n d i n t e n s e l y d r a m a t i c global crises with sustained success. I am referring not to “fashionable” success appropriation ever- la c k i n g the womb-to-tomb scrutinizing vista and marshaled c o n s i d e r a t i o n p e r t a i n i n g t o : ( a ) Fa c t o r s c on s i d e r i n g o u r o w n s w o r n e x i s t e n t i a l r i v a l s , a n d ( b ) O t h e r a g e n t s c o m p e t i n g a g a in s t o u r e f f o r t s t o “ s t a y a l i v e E a r t h l y a n d w i t h d i g n i t y ” — t h a t i s , if t h e Universe and the Multiverse warrant their sovereign permission — as we effect our efforts to countering said global crises (please remember — for your pondering, reflections and meditation — the over-empowered “global crisis of corruption,” greatly downplayed
  • 452. 452 e v e n a f te r i g n o r i n g i t s i m m e m o r i a l e x i s t e n c e ) . W i t h o u t a n a b s o l u t e o b s e r v a n c e o f t h e i n d i c a t e d in t h i s p a r a g r a p h , a n y “ p r e a c h i n g ” o f “ s u c c e s s c a p t u r i n g ” w i l l s e c u r e u n iv e r s a l f a i l u r e . “Global Crisis of Universal Corruption: A Microscopic View to a Macroscopic Problem!,” slide a v a i la b l e at http://slidesha.re/cKez6Y We must establish universal acceptance of the greatest axiom of all times pertaining to the subject matter to be dealt with now. S a i d a x i o m e s t a b l i s h e s : “ A n ou n c e o f pr e v e n t i on i s w o r t h m i l l i o n s o f d o l l ar s o f c u r e . ” I n t h e W e s t w e a r e u n q u e s t i o n a b l y s u p e r - succeeding at over-working at the “cure” while maximizing the ignoring of the “prevention.” I h o p e t h a t E a r t h a n d “ e a r t h i a n s ” ( pa r a p h r a s i n g n o t a b l e a n d m o s t lu c i d R i c h a r d B u c k m i n s t e r Fu l l e r ) d o e s n o t l e a r n i n h i n d s i g h t — but in earliest and sophisticated foresight and far-sight — the s a v v i e s t le s s o n f r o m n o n - i n s u r a n c e a n d “ a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e ” driven Risk Management that I contemplate, in my case and as per m y o w n p r o p r i e t a r y m e t h o d , c a l l “ T r a n s f o r m a t i v e An d I n t e g r a t i v e Risk Management.” (http://slidesha.re/c6GC0C)
  • 453. 453 D r . S t e p h e n Ha w k i n g h a s r e i t e r a t i v e l y s u g g e s t e d t h e w o r l d ’ s c i v i l i z a t i o n t o m o v e o u t o f E a r t h b y s p r e a d i n g in o u t e r s p a c e w i t h l i t t l e s u c c e s s . V i e w D r . H a w k i n g i n t e rv i e w e d b y M r . C h a r l i e R o s e at http://bit.ly/9wPlQ7 In learning more about this aspect, it is recommended the visiting o f Qu e e n E l i z a b e t h ’ s t o p - n o t c h s c i e n t i s t ( “ A s t r o n o m e r R o y a l ” ) , S i r Martin Rees (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Martin_Rees), pu b l i s h e d a textbook titled “Our Final Hour: A S c i en t i s t ' s W ar n i n g b y M a r t i n J . R e e s ” ( I S B N - 1 0 : 0 4 6 5 0 6 8 6 3 4 ) , a v a i l a b l e a t http://amzn.to/cxl6Hi Additional research on the subject matter, addressing the gravest e x i s t e n t i a l U P S I D E S m a y b e f ou n d e d a u t h o r e d b y G e o r g e O r w e l l , Richard Buckminster Fuller, Bertrand Russell and even Albert E i n s t e i n , a m o n g m a n y o t h e r s . Ha v e y o u s e e n t h e E i n s t e i n - R u s s e l l manifesto? As supporting audio documents to fu r t h e r assess the Caveat here described , the undersigned will offer the following audios accordingly. At < http://bit.ly/i3Jkb3>, Dr. Stephen Ha w k i n g s p e a k s a b o u t t h e L a r g e s t Q u e s t i o n s T o A n y C iv i l i z a t i o n .
  • 454. 454 S i r M a r t i n R e e s , a n o t o r i o u s Ca m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y c o s m o l o g i s t a n d professor, as well as the acting scientist to the English Crown, has his audio on the “caveat” at < http://bit.ly/e9bXm6 > and < h t t p : / / b i t . l y / f 0 1 D O r > H i s b o o k , “ O u r F i n a l H o u r : A S c ie n t i s t ' s Warning,” by Martin J. Rees can be acquired at http://amzn.to/ebwwYT T h e E i n s t e i n - R u s s e l l M a n if e s t o e n s u e s : “ I n v i e w o f t h e f a c t t h at i n any future w or l d war n u c l e ar weapons will c e r t ai n l y be employed, an d t h at su c h weapons threaten the continued e x i s t en c e o f m a n k i n d , w e u r g e t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e w o r ld t o r e a l i z e , a n d t o a c k n o w l e d g e p u b l i c l y , t h a t t h e i r pu r p o s e c an n o t b e f u r t h e r ed b y a w o r l d w ar , a n d w e u r g e t h e m , c on s e q u e n t l y , t o f i n d p e ac e f u l m e a n s f o r t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f a l l m at t e r s o f d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t h e m. ” [ 1 3 2 ] In no way am I neither a herald of devastation nor an optimist in the tradition of Dr. Pangloss. [49]. I d o r e s e a rc h ( u n d e r a b s o l u t e c o n s i s t e n c y a n d c o n g r u e n c y w i t h a l l o f m y pu b l i c c l a i m s ) , w i t h e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g r i g o r , d e p t h a n d s c o p e , an important number of driving forces affecting our lives.
  • 455. 455 I a m n o t o u t s i d e r e a l i s m b u t I w i l l n e v e r a v o i d f a c in g r e a l i t y i n i t s e n t i r e t y r e ga r d l e s s o f h o w d a r i n g i t b e c o m e s . T hu s o n e c a n a s s e r t w i t h c e r t i t u d e t h a t I a m c a u t i o u s l y h o p e f u l , e s p e c i a l l y a s I o b s e r v e t h e c h a l l e n g e a n d c o n c e iv e s o l u t i o n s . I n m y f ra m e o f r e f e r e n c e a n d a s p e r m y s c a l e , I w o r k t h r o u g h t h e m s t r o n g l y a n d h o p e f u l l y s m a r t l y . I f o n e t h i n k s I a m a pe r s o n o f theories only, he hasn’t seen me solving complex problems ( “a d v a n c e d p r o b l e m s ” ) . T h o s e I u n de r t a k e I s o l v e . I a b i d e b y t h e u n k n o w n a d a g e , “T h e h a r d e r I w o r k , t h e l u c k y I g et ” [ e v e n t u a l l y a n d h o p e f u l l y ] . S i m o n B o l i v a r p r o c l a i m e d , “ G od g r a n t s victory to the persevering.” [129] I t i s o p p o r t u n e t o m a k e a d i s t i n c t i o n . S o - c a l le d “ t r e n d s ” a r e t h e m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f d r i v i n g f o r c e s ’ i n t e r p r e t a t i o n b y a g i v e n pa r t y . T re n d s a r e a f u n c t i o n o f d r i v i n g f o r c e s a n d n o t t h e o t h e r w a y a r o u n d . T re n d s a r e a l s o a f u n c t i o n o f t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n b y t h e pe r s o n o b s e r v i n g ( d i r e c t l y a n d / o r in d i r e c t l y ) s a i d d r i v i n g f o r c e s . T h e r e a r e s o m e “ p r o m i n e n t ” s c ie n t i s t s t h a t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e t e r m “ t r e n d ” i s s y n o n y m o u s w i t h “ d r i v i n g f o r c e . ” A g a in , a n o t h e r c r i t i c a l existential blunder that blurs our vision. Trends are summations of t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e s . I f we ’ r e r e a l l y g o i n g t o g e t in t o p e r v a s i v e r o o t
  • 456. 456 analysis, we must know that the “cause” — so to speak — that is r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e D RI V I N G F O R C E S w h i l e t h e “ c o n s e q u e n c e ” — so to speak — is represented by the laggards’ “trends” — so called. E v e n b y D r . B e r t r a n d R u s s e l l ’ s p r o c l a i m ( “ I k n o w m o r e pe o p l e w h o prefer to die than to think.”) [ 3] , we must a n y wa y create preconditions and conditions readily and steadfastly for everyone t o g e t m o r e i m m e r s e d i n t o t h e c on s t r u c t i v e a n d y e t b r e a k t h r o u g h t h i n k i n g s i d e o f t h e e qu a t i o n t h a n i n t h e s e lf - d e s t r u c t i n g o n e . The behavior and the patterns of such behavior by the reading offered by time’s pendulum and the metronome, as well as other “measurers,” are beyond worst chaos. F a c i n g d a r i n g F U T U R E S , we m u s t b e c o m e ( FI R S T ) p a t t e r n i s t s a n d , a s pe r m y O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y ’ s s t a n d a r d s a n d o w n u t t e r m e n t i o n , w e m u s t e a c h b e ( a n d S E C O N D ) t h e “ m o n s t e r o f o m n i s c i e n c e . ” [ 5 0] All of the former ad verbum and at vitam. I n g e t t i n g a m o r e a m p l e a n d r o b u s t v ie w o f s a i d “ c a v e a t , ” I s u g g e s t t h e a d d i t i o n a l r e a d i n g p r o v i d e d b y t h e S c i e n t i f ic A m e r i c a n a n d S i r Martin Rees’ book respectively at http://slidesha.re/9P3hGr and http://slidesha.re/djcqNJ
  • 457. 457 CHAPTER 7 “THE HOPE” (By William Faulkner, Nobel Prize a c c e p t a n c e s p e e c h , D e c e m b e r 1 0, 1 9 5 0 ) “ I d e c l i n e t o a c c e p t t h e en d o f m a n . I t i s e a s y en o u g h t o s a y t h at m a n i s i m m o r t a l s i m p l y b ec a u s e h e w i l l e n d u r e : t h at w h en t h e l a s t d i n g - d o n g o f d o o m h a s c l an g e d a n d f ad e d f r o m t h e l a s t w o r t h l e s s r o c k h a n g i n g t i d e l e s s i n t h e l a s t r ed a n d d yi n g e v e n i n g , t h a t e v e n t h en t h e r e wi l l s t i l l b e o n e m o r e s o u n d : t h at o f h i s p u n y i n e x h a u s t i b l e v o i c e, st i l l t a l k i n g . I r e fu s e t o ac c e pt t h i s . I b e l i e v e t h a t m a n w i l l n ot m er e l y en d u r e : h e w i l l pr e v a i l . H e i s i m m o r t a l , n ot b ec a u s e h e a l on e a m o n g c r e a t u r e s h a s a n i n e x h a u s t i b l e v o i c e , b u t b e c au s e h e h a s a s o u l, a s p i r i t c a p ab l e o f c o m p a s s i o n a n d s a c r i f i c e a n d e n d u r a n c e . T h e p o e t ’ s , t h e w r i t er ’ s , d u t y i s t o w r i t e ab o u t t h e s e t h i n g s . I t i s h i s pr i v i l e g e t o h e l p m a n e n d u r e b y li f t i n g h i s h e a r t , b y r e m i n d i n g h i m o f t h e c o u r a g e a n d h o n o r a n d h o p e a n d p r i d e a n d c o m p a s s i o n a n d p i t y an d s a c r i f i c e w h i c h h a s b e e n t h e g l o r y o f h i s p a s t . T h e p o et ’ s v o i c e n e ed n ot m e r e l y b e t h e r e c o r d o f m a n , i t c an b e o n e o f t h e p r o p s , t h e pi l l a r s t o h e l p h i m en d u r e an d p r e v a i l . ” [ 5 2] CHAPTER 7
  • 458. 458 TURNING HOPE INTO ACTIONS On the future of global citizenship and seeking to make earth v i a b l e a n d s u s t a i n a b l e , T i c h y m a k e s t h e e n s u in g c o n s i d e r a t i o n s : “ I w a n t t o en d t h i s c h a p t er w i t h s o m e p e r s o n a l r e f l e c t i o n s on g l o b a l c o r p or a t e c i t i z e n s h i p a n d w h a t I s e e f o r t h e fu t u r e . T h e c h a l l e n g e s f o r a l l o f u s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e i n s e n i o r le a d e r s h i p r o l e s i n b u si n e s s , h a v e g o n e e x p o n e n t i a l l y . T h e e v e n t s o f 9 / 1 1 a n d t h e o n g o i n g w ar on t e r r o r i s m h a v e c r e a t ed a n e w w o r ld p l a y i n g f i e ld . I t i s o n e t h a t , I b e l i e v e , m a k e s i t a b u s i n e s s i m p er a t i v e t o l e a d i n n e w w a y s . A w a y mu s t b e f o u n d t o t u r n t h e u n c er t a i n t y a n d c h a o s o f t h e w o r l d — t h e m u l t i p l e e t h n i c w a r s , t h e g l o b a l t er r o r i s m — i n t o a s u s t a i n ab l e , j u s t , a n d g r o w i n g g l ob a l e c on o m y . ” He continues: “ A s i f t h e c h a l l e n g e o f b u i l d i n g T e ac h i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h i n i n s t i t u t i o n s t h e s i z e o f G e n er a l E l e c t r i c , 3 M , H o m e De p o t , o r Y u m ! B r a n d s w e r en ’ t e n ou g h , t h e l e ad e r s w i t h i n i n st i t u t i o n s n o w n e e d t o r e a c h o u t an d e n g a g e t h e l a r g er c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h i n wh i c h t h e s e i n st i t u t i o n s o p e r a t e i n V i r t u o u s T e a c h i n g C y c l e s . ” I n a d d i t i o n , T i c h y f u r t h e rs h i s c o m m e n t s :
  • 459. 459 “ T h e l o n g - t e r m w e l l - b ei n g o f t h e w o r l d r eq u i r e s a g l o b a l w a r o n p o v e r t y , on e a i m ed a t c r e a t i n g n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s f or m o r e a n d m o r e o f t h e p l a n e t ’ s m o r e t h a n 6 b i l l i o n i n h ab i t a n t s . At t h e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l l e v e l , t h i s m e a n s m a k i n g f o o d , h e a lt h c a r e a n d ed u c a t i on a v a i l a b l e f o r a n e v e r e x p a n d i n g pr o p o r t i on o f t h e w o r l d ’ s p o p u l a t i o n . I f w e d o n ’ t d o t h i s , w e r i s k t h a t t h e v i c i ou s c yc l e o f p o v e r t y w i l l r e s u l t i n m i s e r y , et h n i c s t r i f e an d t e r r o r i s m . A s P e t er D r u c k e r p o i n t s ou t , t h i s c e n t u r y i s t h e o n e t h a t wi l l — or s h o u l d — f i n a l l y b r i n g e n li g h t en m e n t a n d o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h e majority of humankind.” He points out too: “ I en d or s e D r u c k e r ’ s b e l i e f t h at a b u s i n e s s l e a d e r ’ s ob l i g a t i o n i s n ot j u s t t o d i r ec t s t a k e h o ld e r s i n h i s o r h er o r g a n i z a t i o n — i . e . investors, employees, customers, suppliers, the immediate c o m m u n i t y — b u t a l s o t o t h e w i d e r c o m mu n i t y a t l a r g e. A ft e r a l l , t h i s i s en l i g h t e n ed s e l f - i n t er e s t . ” Tichy continues: “ O n a c o s m i c s c a l e, t h e g l o b a l e n v i r on m e n t , t h e g l o b a l e c on o m y , a n d t h e p h y s i c a l an d f i n a n c i a l w e l l - b e i n g o f pe o p l e a f f ec t a
  • 460. 460 c o m p a n y ’ s p er f o r m a n c e — p e o p l e n e e d d i s p o s a b l e i n c o m e s t o b u y t h e t h i n g s t h a t m o s t c o m p a n i e s a r e s e l l i n g. I f t h e y d o n ’ t h a v e t h a t , a n d i f t h e y a r e r i ot i n g i n t h e s t r e e t s or b e c o m i n g t e r r o r i s t s b e c au s e t h e y f e e l d i s f r a n c h i s e d , t h i s i s v er y b ad f o r b u si n e s s . Likewise, if we kick of the planet, business is not going to do well, ei t h er . ” And Tichy adds: “ B u t t h i s i s a r i d i c u l o u s l y b r o a d a r gu m e n t , an d f u r t h e r , i t i sn ’ t r e a l i s t i c t o t h i n k t h at an y c o m p an y i s g o i n g t o s a v e t h e w o r ld . N o n e t h e l e s s , c o m p an i e s n e e d t o b e c o r p o r at e c i t i z e n s . T h e y m u st n ot o n l y ‘d o n o h ar m , ’ t h e y mu s t a c t i v e l y d o t h e i r p a r t t o w a r d i mp r o v i n g an d m a i n t a i n i n g t h e h e a l t h o f t h e g l o b a l c o m mu n i t y . ” T i c h y c a r r i e s o n w i t h t h e en s u i n g : “ I t i s o u r o b l i g a t i o n o f l e a d er s t o h a v e a T P O V [ t h at i s, “ T e a c h ab l e P o i n t o f V i e w ”] on h o w t o en g a g e t h e i r c or p o r a t i o n a s en t i t i e s a n d t o e n c o u r a g e t h e p e o p l e wh o w o r k i n t h e m t o b e g o o d c i t i z e n s . T h e s p e c i f i c s t e p s t h at a l e ad e r o r a c o m p a n y t a k e s m a y s e e m s m a l l o r l i k e t ot e m s , b u t n o m a t t er h o w li m i t ed t h e i m p ac t , t h e y d o m a k e a c o n t r i b u t i o n . A n d s m a l l i n i t i a l s t e p s c an l e ad p e o p l e t o s i g n i f i c an t l i f e l o n g c o m m i t m e n t s . ”
  • 461. 461 And, in closing these comments by Tichy, he finally indicates: “ V i r t u o u s T e a c h i n g C y c l e s a re a g r e a t v e h i c l e f o r c i t i z e n s h i p a c t i v i t i e s . T h e y a l l o w p e o p l e f r o m v e ry d i s p a r a t e w o r l d s t o e n g a g e w i t h o n e a n o t h e r i n t e a c h i n g a n d l e a r n in g — w h i c h i s h o w t h i n g s a re g o i n g t o g e t b e t t e r . ” [ 4 2] CHAPTER 7 H O W T O C O P E W I T H C EN T U R Y T W EN T I E T H O N E ! Learn a challenging lesson quickly: To be a conscientiously human being into deep, subtle, and proactive awareness, you need to entertain some form of profound spirituality understanding that the greatest wealth is that of the spirit and the enlightened mind (those splendid intangibles). O n c e y o u d o y ou r o w n m o s t c o n s c ie n t i o u s a w a r e n e s s f o r L i f e , y o u can increasingly do your morality and ethics for said Life. Once you do your morality and ethics, you can do your actionable knowledge.
  • 462. 462 I n o r d e r t o c a p tu r e e v e r - u p d a t a b l e a n d pe r p e t u a l l y a m p l i f i a b l e a s w e l l a s a c t i o n a b l e k n o w l e d g e , y o u a n d o n l y y ou m u s t c ha l l e n g e yourself intellectually as if you were competing with your strongest opponent. I f y o u r e a l l y w i s h t o i m m e r s e y o u r m i n d i n t o t h e pe r s p e c t i v e o f t h e applied all-knowingness, you most make the greatest effort — in a sustained mode — towards actionable and applicable omniscience (http://bit.ly/ceJOns), chiefly with the perspective attached by the most sophisticated exact sciences. O n c e y o u d o y ou r i n t e l l e c t , kn o w l e d g e , a n d s c i e n c e , y o u c a n l u c i d l y c o n c e i v e y o u r lu c r a t i v e f u t u r e s f o r t h e s o - c a l l e d a n d la m e n t a b l e “heres and nows.” W h e n y o u r f u t u r e s a r e d o n e , c o n c e i v e d , v i s u a l i ze d , a n d d e v e l o p e d w a y i n a dv a n c e , f o r e s i g h t , a n d f a r - s i g h t b y y o u , y o u c a n t h e n d o your upside and downside risks. W h e n r i s k s a n d c o m p e t i n g r i v a l s a re d o n e s o l e l y b y y o u o p t i m a l l y , you can do your benefits.
  • 463. 463 Your risks and competing rivals get much better done when you c o n s i d e r l a v i s h p r o v i s i o n s f o r c on t i n g e n c y p la n n in g u n d e r t h e rigor and vigor of mentioned omniscience. Now you know — complete the entirety of this process throughput systematically, systemically, holistically (thus exercising a global management perspective), and without ignoring a single step m e n t i o n e d a b o v e — h o w t o p r o c e e d in s e i z i n g s u c c e s s i n p e r s o n a l , p r o f e s s i o n a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , a n d s o c i e t a l l if e . Can you now commence your own development, by and for yourself, of self-improvement and/or self-betterment? CHAPTER 7 W H A T A R E T H E T Y P E S O F T H I N K I N G T H A T J O I N T L Y AN D S I M U L T AN E O U S L Y M U S T B E E X E R C I S E D T O F I R S T G U E S S T H E F U T U R E R I G H T IN T H E T H I R D M I L L E N N I U M ? Qu i c k l y s t a t e d a n d w h e n i n v o k i n g T HI N K I N G — a s p e r t h e undersigned — it is succinctly to say and DO (that is) by way of matter-of-fact example: ( M o d e s o f T h i n k i n g , en s u i n g : ) “Terra Incognita” Thinking
  • 464. 464 W e i r d S c i en c e ' s T h i n k i n g “ E i n st e i n i a n G e d a n k e ” T h i n k i n g Ecological Thinking F ac t o r y T h i n k i n g Surprise-Free Thinking T h r ou g h - P a r ad o x e s T h i n k i n g Qualitative Thinking Q u an t i t a t i v e T h i n k i n g U n c o n v en t i on a l l y - U n c o m m o n T h i n k i n g Weirdo’s Thinking W e i r d S c i en c e ' s T h i n k i n g “Rara Avis” Thinking Gestalt Thinking “Edisonian research” Thinking Epidemiologic Thinking Entomological Thinking Fuzzy-Logic Thinking Non-Linear Thinking S c en a r i o - M e t h od T h i n k i n g U n c o n v en t i on a l T h i n k i n g Unorthodox Thinking “ À l a Q u a n t u m M ec h a n i c s ” T h i n k i n g “A Priori” Thinking “A Posteriori” Thinking
  • 465. 465 “A Cappella” Thinking Peripheral Thinking Epicentric Thinking Multi-Level Thinking Pluri-Filter Thinking Multidimensional Thinking Cross-Functional Thinking T r a n s - C o n t e xt u a l T h i n k i n g Cross-Referenced Thinking “Against the whole cliche of the moment” Thinking “Against Sloppy, Emotional” Thinking “ A g a i n s t F a s h i o n ab l e ” T h i n k i n g “Against Inexpensive” Thinking In-Advance Thinking E a r l y - On T h i n k i n g “Post Mortem” Thinking “ P r e M or t e m ” T h i n k i n g F or e n s i c T h i n k i n g P r e - F o r en s i c T h i n k i n g “Short-Term and Long-Term” Thinking Preemptive Thinking C ou n t er - I n t u i t i v e n e s s T h i n k i n g W o mb - t o - t o m b T h i n k i n g U n t h i n k ab l e T h i n k i n g
  • 466. 466 Undreamed-of Thinking U n - d a y d r e a m ed - o f T h i n k i n g H et e r o d o x T h i n k i n g Un-Commonsensical Thinking Illogicality Thinking T h r ou g h p u t T h i n k i n g M u l t i - P e r s p ec t i v e T h i n k i n g P s e u d o - S er e n d i p i t o u s T h i n k i n g “ P r e M or t e m ” T h i n k i n g Pre-“Post Mortem” Thinking “ P r i m u m n oc e r e ” T h i n k i n g “ P r i m u m n on n oc e r e ” T h i n k i n g Cosmological Thinking Comprehensive Thinking I n t er d i s c i p l i n a r y T h i n k i n g Exploratory Thinking Naturalist Thinking P r et e r - N a t u r a l i s t T h i n k i n g Spacewalk Thinking D i s c o n t i n u o u s - P r o gr e s s i o n T h i n k i n g Exuberant Thinking “Applied Omniscience Knowledge” Thinking H y p e r - G e o m et r i c a l T h i n k i n g D en s e T h i n k i n g
  • 467. 467 Multi-tasking Thinking I n - S er i e s T h i n k i n g In-Parallel Thinking Microscopic Thinking M ac r o s c o p i c T h i n k i n g Telescopic Thinking Engineering Thinking R e - E n g i n e er i n g T h i n k i n g “ O v e r h au l e d R e - E n g i n e er i n g ” T h i n k i n g Systems Thinking T h r ou g h o u t T h i n k i n g “Alpha and Omega” Thinking Composite Thinking A g g r e g a t ed T h i n k i n g C o m p o u n d ed T h i n k i n g P a r e n t h et i c a l T h i n k i n g Inventor’s Thinking Discoverer’s Thinking H a r m on i c T h i n k i n g C ou n t er - s e e i n g T h i n k i n g C ou n t er - e n v i s i o n i n g T h i n k i n g Multi-Range Thinking Pluri-Intent Thinking G PS T h i n k i n g
  • 468. 468 S on a r T h i n k i n g R a d ar T h i n k i n g Hu m m i n gb i r d T h i n k i n g Horse-seeing Thinking H e l i c o p t er T h i n k i n g M at r i x - M a n a g e m e n t T h i n k i n g I n t er c on n ec t e d T h i n k i n g Submarine Thinking I n t er d e p en d en c y T h i n k i n g F or e t h ou g h t T h i n k i n g Hindsight Thinking M u l t i f a c e t ed T h i n k i n g Wholeness Thinking “ C on t i n u ou s I m p r o v e m e n t a n d I n n o v a t i o n ” T h i n k i n g Alternatives-Exploring Thinking System-wide Thinking “ S u p p or t L e a r n i n g a n d C h a n g e ” T h i n k i n g Specificity Thinking Multimedia-vision Thinking “ O u t - T h er e ” T h i n k er ’ s T h i n k i n g Road-map Thinking “Creative Destruction” Thinking Reverse-Engineering Thinking Critical Thinking
  • 469. 469 Sense-of-urgency Thinking S e e - t h r ou g h - t h e - s t r at e g y - s o o n e s t T h i n k i n g A r m e d - w i t h - i n f o r m at i o n T h i n k i n g “ S h r i n k i n g r e s o u r c e s a n d pr e c i o u s l i t t l e t i m e ” T h i n k i n g “ F ac i l i t a t e t h e e x p a n d e d i n v o l v e m e n t o f p r ac t i t i o n er s ” T h i n k i n g Nondelegate Thinking N u an c e T h i n k i n g “Amplest Nuance” Thinking “ M o s t F o c u s ed N u a n c e ” T h i n k i n g C on s t r u c t i v e - F e ed b ac k T h i n k i n g “ N u m er i c a l d a t a - d r i v e n ” T h i n k i n g “ N a r r at i v e d at a - d r i v en ” T h i n k i n g S e l f - u p g r ad i n g T h i n k i n g C o e x t en s i v e T h i n k i n g N o n - c o e x t en s i v e T h i n k i n g Boundarylessness Thinking C on v e x T h i n k i n g C on c a v e T h i n k i n g O s t r ac i z e d T h i n k i n g Non-proforma Thinking C on t i n u u m T h i n k i n g C on t i n u ou s T h i n k i n g A s y n c h r o n ou s T h i n k i n g I n t er d e p ar t m e n t a l T h i n k i n g
  • 470. 470 I n t r a d e p ar t m e n t a l T h i n k i n g Omnidepartmental Thinking N o n d e p a r t m en t a l T h i n k i n g Multi-level Thinking M u l t i - sc a l e T h i n k i n g M u l t i - n u an c e T h i n k i n g Multi-context Thinking O m n i - p er s p e c t i v e T h i n k i n g P l u r i - “ M e n t a l - F i l t er ” T h i n k i n g C on t e m p l a t i v e T h i n k i n g O s t r ac i z e d - o u t T h i n k i n g O s t r ac i z e d - i n T h i n k i n g “ D y n a mi c C o m p l e x i t y ” T h i n k i n g “ D et a i l c o m p l e x i t y ” T h i n k i n g “Self-Enculturate into Science, Engineering and Systems” Thinking “ S e n i or m e d i c a l i n t en s i v i s t ” T h i n k i n g “ S e n i or m i l i t a r y s u r g e o n ” T h i n k i n g “ I n t en s i v e c ar e m e d i c a l d i r ec t or ” T h i n k i n g “ C o m p a r at i v e - p er f o r m a n c e k n o w l ed g e ” T h i n k i n g “ C o m p et i t i v e - p e r f or m a n c e k n o w l e d g e ” T h i n k i n g C on t i n u a l - a n a l y s i s T h i n k i n g Never-ending Thinking Paradigm-shift Thinking
  • 471. 471 F u n d a m e n t a l - c h an g e T h i n k i n g R e l i gi o s i t y T h i n k i n g Non-religiosity Thinking Pluralist Thinking “ B r a i n p r ep a r e d n e s s i n ad v a n c e ” T h i n k i n g “ G r a p p l e wi t h c o m p l e x i t y ” T h i n k i n g S i n gu l a r i s t T h i n k i n g S c en a r i s t T h i n k i n g Innovist Thinking B r e a k t h r o u gh i s t T h i n k i n g Creativist Thinking D y n a mi c i s t T h i n k i n g “God-less uncertainty” Thinking Multiple-angles Thinking The “eye in the sky” Thinking M RI T h i n k i n g f M RI T h i n k i n g Cross-over Thinking “ F or c ed r et h i n k i n g ” T h i n k i n g “ P r e v e n t a t i v e ac t i on s ” T h i n k i n g “Any preventive or corrective actions” Thinking “ A s y s t e m a t i c , s y s t e m i c , g l o b a l, a l l - i n c l u s i v e a p pr o a c h ” T h i n k i n g “All at once” Thinking O u t m a n eu v e r i n g T h i n k i n g
  • 472. 472 Pantologic Thinking Aristotelian Thinking Kantian Thinking Neo-Kantian Thinking H e g e l i an T h i n k i n g D ar w i n i a n T h i n k i n g Panto-morphic Thinking P a n t o - a m o r p h ou s T h i n k i n g E i n st e i n i a n T h i n k i n g Da-Vincian Thinking Geistesgeschichte Thinking Newtonian Thinking Galilean Thinking C o p er n i c a n T h i n k i n g S oc r at i c T h i n k i n g Archimedean Thinking Freudian Thinking G o t h en i a n T h i n k i n g F e y n m an i a n T h i n k i n g N i et z s c h e a n T h i n k i n g H er c u l e a n T h i n k i n g C o l l at e r a l T h i n k i n g “ N u an c ed I n si g h t ” T h i n k i n g “Timeless-age mentality” Thinking
  • 473. 473 Athematic Thinking Anathema Thinking “Pandora box” Thinking C on t i n u u m - b e s i e g e d T h i n k i n g “ T r a n s c en d b i o l o g i c a l l i mi t a t i o n s ” T h i n k i n g “ D e e p i n s i gh t s i n t o t h e f u t u r e ” T h i n k i n g “ T o u r d e F or c e ” T h i n k i n g Thought-Provoking Thinking C on t i n u ou s - D i a l o g u e T h i n k i n g “ C at c h - a s - c at c h - c a n m od e ” T h i n k i n g H i st o r i c a l l y - d i sr u p t e d T h i n k i n g Liberation Thinking Liberating Thinking R e v e l a t i on T h i n k i n g Sneak-preview Thinking N i t t y - gr i t t y T h i n k i n g I n f o r m ed - c o n j ec t u r e T h i n k i n g Digital-entanglement Thinking I n f o r m ed - c o n j ec t u r e T h i n k i n g Digital-entanglement Thinking C on t r o v e r s i a l i s t T h i n k i n g Intrinsically-inquisitive Thinking Inwardly-focus Thinking Outwardly-focus Thinking
  • 474. 474 I n t er l i n k e d T h i n k i n g C on j e c t u r a l T h i n k i n g Swarm Thinking Check-and-balance Thinking J o i n t - V i s i on T h i n k i n g Disparate-Vision Thinking G a r d en - v a r i e t y T h i n k i n g N o n g a r d e n - v a r i et y T h i n k i n g Escapist Thinking C on t o r t i o n i s t T h i n k i n g M ob i l e T h i n k i n g Paradox-engendering Thinking N o n - t r ad i t i o n a l i st T h i n k i n g N o n - v a c u ou s T h i n k i n g Entirely Thinking I n e v i t ab l e T h i n k i n g Avoidable Thinking Voidable Thinking Optimal Thinking Sub-optimal Thinking Inessential Thinking I n c on s e q u en t i a l T h i n k i n g I n e f f ec t u a l T h i n k i n g T an g e n t i a l T h i n k i n g
  • 475. 475 Implausible Thinking Politicalization Thinking Non-politicalization Thinking N u m er i c a l i z a t i o n T h i n k i n g N o n - n u m e r i c a l i z a t i on T h i n k i n g Logician Thinking Non-logician Thinking Polynesian Thinking Non-Polynesian Thinking H a w a i i an T h i n k i n g Non-Hawaiian Thinking F or c e f u l r et h i n k i n g T h i n k i n g Full orbed Thinking Jack-of-all-trades Thinking J a c k - o f - a l l - t r a d e s ’ a p p l i ed o m n i sc i e n c e T h i n k i n g “ C o m f o r t b e f or e p a r ad o x e s ” T h i n k i n g “ T h e s h e e r - t o - p e er s c a l e ” T h i n k i n g Rapid-shift Thinking Swirling-shift Thinking Revolving-shift Thinking Chaotic-shift Thinking Age-old Thinking “Unforeseeable future” Thinking S a m en e s s - l e s s T h i n k i n g
  • 476. 476 Sharp-observation Thinking Ahead-of-time Thinking “ T e c h n i c a l l y t r ai n e d ” T h i n k i n g Across-the-board Thinking U n i m a g i n ab l e T h i n k i n g A b r o ad , w o m b - t o - t o mb T h i n k i n g Virtually unimaginable Thinking “Freak” Thinking Freakish Thinking Rare Thinking “Near Impossible” Thinking “Unheard of” Thinking C o m p l et e n e s s T h i n k i n g Unforeseeable-futures Thinking S a m en e s s - l e s s T h i n k i n g Sharp-observation Thinking T ot a l l y u n e x p e c t e d t h i n k i n g Entirely counter-to-everything Thinking An all-inclusive-plan Thinking “ E v e r y n e ed l e o u t o f t h e h a y s t a c k ” T h i n k i n g In-flow, rich views Thinking F an c y T h i n k i n g “ A c t i n c o n c e r t f o r a c o m m o n pu r p o s e ” T h i n k i n g Beforehand Thinking
  • 477. 477 F or e t h ou g h t T h i n k i n g F or e j u d g e d T h i n k i n g F or e c o n s c i o u s T h i n k i n g F or e o r d a i n e d T h i n k i n g F or e n s i c T h i n k i n g P r e - f o r en s i c T h i n k i n g Sterling Thinking Recursive Thinking “Recursive Self-Improvement” Thinking Q u i c k en i n g T h i n k i n g Utopian Thinking M i l l e n ar i s t T h i n k i n g N o n - M i l l en a r i s t T h i n k i n g Ideation Thinking “ N o n v e s t i gi a l ” T h i n k i n g Versatilist Thinking Orchestrating Thinking I n n o v a t i o n - g en e r a t i n g T h i n k i n g I n t er a c t i v e T h i n k i n g T h e o r et i c a l T h i n k i n g P r ac t i c a l T h i n k i n g Computational Thinking D e s i gn i n g T h i n k i n g Evaluating Thinking
  • 478. 478 K n o w l ed g i s t T h i n k i n g Grammatical Thinking Ungrammatical Thinking Unfamiliar Thinking Unfashionable Thinking Unfrequented Thinking D i s e m b r o i l ed T h i n k i n g D i s e n c h a n t ed T h i n k i n g D i s e n c u m b er e d T h i n k i n g Extrinsic Thinking Intrinsic Thinking Extroverted Thinking I n t r o v e r t ed T h i n k i n g Introspection Thinking Tribalist Thinking Globalist Thinking Championing Thinking Editorial Thinking S p e a r h e ad i n g T h i n k i n g S w e a t - e ar n ed T h i n k i n g Effortless Thinking Cutting-edge Thinking Next-level Thinking W on d r o u s T h i n k i n g
  • 479. 479 G i f t ed T h i n k i n g Tireless Thinking Fighting-the-future Thinking F er v i d t h i n k i n g S yn e r g i s t i c T h i n k i n g Sleepless Thinking Empowerment Thinking Impact Thinking “ D e e p l y en t r e n c h e d ” T h i n k i n g Priceless Thinking Painless Thinking Comprehensive Thinking Cradle-to-graveyard Thinking C r a d l e - t o - a f t e r w or l d T h i n k i n g Cradle-to-afterlife Thinking C u m u l at i v e T h i n k i n g T h e i s l a n d - o f - e x c el l e n c e - i n - a - s e a - o f - m e d i o c r i t y T h i n k i n g I n a r gu a b l e T h i n k i n g Self-evident Thinking Peripheral Thinking Enduring Thinking T r u st w o r t h y T h i n k i n g S e l f - r e l i ab l e T h i n k i n g D e e p er Un d er s t a n d i n g T h i n k i n g
  • 480. 480 Inquisitive Thinking I n t er r e l at e d T h i n k i n g A strict regimen of Thinking G e n er a t i v e T h i n k i n g A c t i o n - or i e n t e d T h i n k i n g L e v e r a g i n g - i n t e l l ec t u a l - c a pi t a l T h i n k i n g Capital Thinking C on c o m i t a n t T h i n k i n g I r r e v o c ab l y a l t er e d T h i n k i n g P r ed o m i n a n t T h i n k i n g Distinctive Thinking Excludable Thinking Relative Thinking Absolute Thinking Compelling Thinking T ac i t T h i n k i n g D ec i s i v e T h i n k i n g Traversing Thinking C od i f i ed T h i n k i n g Leveraging Thinking Instinctive Thinking Difficult-to-replicate Thinking C l e ar l y o b s e r v a b l e T h i n k i n g Circular Thinking
  • 481. 481 C on t i n u ou s l y r e c o n f i g u r ed T h i n k i n g “ S t r i n g en t q u a l i t y c o n t r o l s ” T h i n k i n g Agile Thinking S e q u en t i a l T h i n k i n g Simultaneous Thinking C on c o m i t a n t l y - a n d - s e q u en t i a l T h i n k i n g C on s t a n t - a t t e n t i o n T h i n k i n g C o o p e r at i v e T h i n k i n g C ou r a g e o u s T h i n k i n g “ A m a z i n g l y p o w er f u l e x p l a n a t o r y ” T h i n k i n g “Initiative-seizing approach” Thinking “Thought through analysis” Thinking Surveying Thinking S u p er b T h i n k i n g R e c i p r oc a t e d T h i n k i n g C or n u c o p i a T h i n k i n g Technical Thinking C on c e p t u a l T h i n k i n g I n t er d e p en d en c y T h i n k i n g Summarized Thinking Inexorable Thinking Transactional Thinking Transformational Thinking Outside observer’s Thinking
  • 482. 482 Electrified Thinking Abundant Thinking C l ar i f y i n g T h i n k i n g C o mb a t i v e T h i n k i n g L i f e - c h an g i n g T h i n k i n g Game-changing Thinking Defining Thinking D ec i s i v e T h i n k i n g E x t r a mu r a l T h i n k i n g Onsite Thinking Offsite Thinking Nonconformist Thinking U n d er l y i n g T h i n k i n g L i t mu s - t e s t T h i n k i n g Accomplishing Thinking C l ar i f i ed T h i n k i n g Overlapping Thinking Nexus Thinking T r a n s c en d i n g T h i n k i n g T r a n s c en d en t a l T h i n k i n g U n i l a t er a l T h i n k i n g Multilateral Thinking Well-developed Thinking M a k i n g - i t - h a p p en T h i n k i n g
  • 483. 483 Compelling Thinking Prioritized Thinking Unleashing Thinking S h a r ed T h i n k i n g Sharable Thinking Uniting Thinking U n i t ed T h i n k i n g D i s u n i t ed T h i n k i n g Amazing Thinking C l ar i f y i n g T h i n k i n g C o m m i t t ed T h i n k i n g U n c o m p r o mi s e d T h i n k i n g Flying Thinking On-the-fly Thinking I r r e f u t ab l e T h i n k i n g I r r ep r o a c h ab l e T h i n k i n g I r r e s i st i b l e T h i n k i n g Resolute Thinking I r r ep l a c e a b l e T h i n k i n g I r r ep r e s s i b l e T h i n k i n g R e t en t i v e T h i n k i n g I r r e v o c ab l e T h i n k i n g S e q u en t i a l T h i n k i n g M od e l i n g T h i n k i n g
  • 484. 484 Pathfinding Thinking Aligning Thinking Empowering Thinking Bottom-line Thinking Iroquois Thinking “ F l e xi b l e c h a n g en e s s ” T h i n k i n g Extrapolating Thinking Guiding Thinking I n t er e s t i n g T h i n k i n g I n t er s e c t i n g T h i n k i n g Curious Thinking A n t i c i p at e d T h i n k i n g C a s c ad i n g T h i n k i n g Realigning Thinking D e m an d i n g T h i n k i n g “ S a c r ed C o w ” T h i n k i n g Overriding Thinking S u p er s e d i n g T h i n k i n g Nurturing Thinking Overarching Thinking Rewarding Thinking C on t r a s t i n g T h i n k i n g Helpful Thinking Useful Thinking
  • 485. 485 Leveraging Thinking F ou n d a t i o n a l T h i n k i n g Training Thinking Coaching Thinking F or m a l i z e d T h i n k i n g Maverick Thinking Utopian Thinking D y s t o p i an T h i n k i n g R e s i l i en t T h i n k i n g F r a g m e n t ed T h i n k i n g Newness-mired Thinking F l ou r i s h i n g T h i n k i n g Nourishing Thinking “Mutual” Thinking Multilateral Thinking C on n e c t e d T h i n k i n g W i r ed t h i n k i n g I n d i c at i v e t h i n k i n g Inescapable thinking I n t er w o v e n t h i n k i n g Triage thinking Reengaging thinking Tremendous thinking Nutty thinking
  • 486. 486 C ar e f u l l y c r a f t ed t h i n k i n g Simplified thinking L i t er a l t h i n k i n g Textual thinking Smooth thinking Passionate thinking Dispassionate thinking Proximate thinking Pressing thinking U n d er - p r e s s u r e t h i n k i n g C o m p o u n d ed t h i n k i n g Training thinking M o m en t a r y t h i n k i n g Able thinking C a p ab l e t h i n k i n g Appraising thinking Power-activating thinking E m p o w e r m e n t - ac t i v a t i n g t h i n k i n g L u xu r i ou s t h i n k i n g I gn i t e d t h i n k i n g Preemptive Thinking Threshold Thinking Litigation Thinking Litigating Thinking
  • 487. 487 A b o n e - d e ep T h i n k i n g Hu m a n e T h i n k i n g Hu m a n i t a r i a n T h i n k i n g Servant Thinking M on a r c h i c a l T h i n k i n g Stewardship Thinking Reverent Thinking C ar i n g T h i n k i n g Service Thinking C on t r i b u t i on T h i n k i n g Loyal Thinking Faithful Thinking D ed i c a t e d T h i n k i n g R e d ed i c a t ed T h i n k i n g R e i n v e n t ed T h i n k i n g M en t o r ed T h i n k i n g T u t or e d T h i n k i n g A v o c at i o n T h i n k i n g Vocational Thinking Future-susurration Thinking Reverenced Thinking Ostensible Thinking Retrospective Thinking Prospective Thinking
  • 488. 488 I m p r e g n at e d - w i t h - h i g h e r - pu r p o s e s - a n d - pr i n c i p l e s T h i n k i n g S e r v i c e - ab o v e - a l l T h i n k i n g F l e xi b l e T h i n k i n g R e s i l i en t T h i n k i n g Stoic Thinking Adaptive Thinking C u m u l at i v e T h i n k i n g Incremental Thinking Discontinuous Thinking Linking Thinking Missing-link Thinking Pedagogical Thinking T ol e r a t ed T h i n k i n g I n t o l er a b l e T h i n k i n g S ou n d T h i n k i n g S u b st a n t i a l T h i n k i n g Enduring Thinking S i t u a t i on a l T h i n k i n g S al i e n t T h i n k i n g Shaped Thinking Ever-shaping Thinking P r o p r i e t ar y T h i n k i n g Broad Thinking F er t i l e T h i n k i n g
  • 489. 489 Well-defined Thinking V i d e o r e c or d i n g T h i n k i n g S t i mu l a t ed T h i n k i n g Booming Thinking Helical Thinking S yn t h et i c T h i n k i n g Widespread Thinking W e l l - p o s i t i o n ed T h i n k i n g D i v e r s i f i ed T h i n k i n g Dominant Thinking Avid Thinking Divergent Thinking F i n e l y d e t a i l ed T h i n k i n g Transverse Thinking F or e r u n n i n g T h i n k i n g M ar v e l ’ s T h i n k i n g P r ec i s i o n T h i n k i n g S e l f - t h r e ad i n g T h i n k i n g Smooth Thinking E x p e r i m en t a l T h i n k i n g C on t r a s t i n g T h i n k i n g Astute Thinking P r ec i s e T h i n k i n g C on s e q u e n t i a l T h i n k i n g
  • 490. 490 Lengthy Thinking De facto Thinking D en s e T h i n k i n g “Learning by trying” Thinking A mb i t i o u s T h i n k i n g Inspirational Thinking Instantaneous Thinking U n d er p i n n i n g T h i n k i n g C on t i n u ou s - f l o w T h i n k i n g E c o i m a g i n a t i on T h i n k i n g Prevalent Thinking F oc a l T h i n k i n g Savvy Thinking O p e r at i c T h i n k i n g W or l d - f l a t t e n i n g T h i n k i n g C o o p e r at i v e T h i n k i n g Turbulent Thinking M an i f e s t ed T h i n k i n g Seasoned Thinking M an a g e m e n t - l e v e l T h i n k i n g E x c e l l ed T h i n k i n g Unique Thinking Unison Thinking Long-range Thinking
  • 491. 491 Scrutiny Thinking Diplomatic Thinking I n n er T h i n k i n g I n n er m o s t T h i n k i n g D e xt e r o u s T h i n k i n g Skillful Thinking C o m p et e n t T h i n k i n g E f f i c a c i ou s T h i n k i n g Tight-rope Thinking “A bird’s-eye-view” Thinking T h i n k i n g à l a “ E i n s t e i n i a n G ed a n k e ” Rotund Thinking M a g i s t er i a l T h i n k i n g Dignified Thinking I n d e t e r mi n a c y T h i n k i n g Universalistic Thinking S i n gu l a r T h i n k i n g S i n gu l a r i t a r i an T h i n k i n g S i n gu l a r i s t T h i n k i n g Pluralistic Thinking Inquisitive Thinking M an i f e s t l y a s p i r at i o n a l T h i n k i n g Normative Thinking D ec e n t r a l i z ed T h i n k i n g
  • 492. 492 C en t r a l i z e d T h i n k i n g D ec e n t r a l i z ed T h i n k i n g Stylish Thinking Distributed Thinking A-new-set-of-beliefs Thinking I n d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e T h i n k i n g C y b er m i n d ' s T h i n k i n g Multisensory Thinking Resplendent Thinking D e l i n e a t ed T h i n k i n g Too-creative Thinking F ar - r e a c h i n g T h i n k i n g D e l i n e a t ed T h i n k i n g Delineating Thinking Vivid Thinking H i gh - l e v e l T h i n k i n g Responsive Thinking S u p p or t i v e T h i n k i n g Compelling Thinking C o m p e l l ed T h i n k i n g C l ar i f i ed T h i n k i n g C l ar i f y i n g T h i n k i n g Assertive Thinking Asserting Thinking
  • 493. 493 Hard-drive Thinking I n t er s t e l l a r T h i n k i n g C r o s s - s e c t i on i n g T h i n k i n g C r o s s - s e c t i on e d T h i n k i n g C on t a g i o u s T h i n k i n g F a s t - p a c ed T h i n k i n g Epoch-making Thinking N a t u r e - c h or e o g r a p h i n g T h i n k i n g Pivotal Thinking Immemorial Thinking M on s t r o u s T h i n k i n g P r ec i o u s T h i n k i n g D ou b l e - h e l i c a l T h i n k i n g Secrets-unraveling Thinking M a s t er - c h o r e o g r a p h e r s - o f - l i f e T h i n k i n g Reductionist Thinking Impenetrable Thinking Cross-fertilization Thinking C r o s s - p o l l i n at i o n T h i n k i n g Brainpower Thinking Breathtaking Thinking B i o g e n et i c i s t T h i n k i n g Life-extending Thinking Colonizing Thinking
  • 494. 494 G a l a c t i c - c i vi l i z a t i o n T h i n k i n g Insurmountable Thinking I n t er s t e l l a r T h i n k i n g P l a n et a r y T h i n k i n g Galactic Thinking Respectable Thinking Respected Thinking Respectful Thinking Thrilling Thinking O u t p e r f or m i n g T h i n k i n g Reasoned Thinking Discerned Thinking H a r m on i o u s T h i n k i n g Tricky Thinking Articulated Thinking U n d er l y i n g T h i n k i n g Reviewed Thinking Revisionist Thinking C ar e f u l T h i n k i n g C l e ar - v i e w T h i n k i n g S t r et c h e d T h i n k i n g S t r et c h i n g T h i n k i n g I n t el l e c t u a l i z ed T h i n k i n g H i st o r i c a l T h i n k i n g
  • 495. 495 T o - t h e - p oi n t T h i n k i n g First-rate Thinking Reasoning-from-effect-to-cause Thinking S u b st a n t i v e T h i n k i n g Fulfilling Thinking F u l f i l l ed T h i n k i n g F u l f i l l m en t T h i n k i n g F or m i d ab l e T h i n k i n g “A critical eye” Thinking H i gh - q u a l i t y T h i n k i n g Taskmaster’s Thinking H i gh - p o w e r ed T h i n k i n g S ol i c i t o u s T h i n k i n g Stiff Thinking Technological-prowess Thinking D ec i d e d T h i n k i n g D ec i s i v e T h i n k i n g Incessant Thinking F or e v e r T h i n k i n g F or - L i f e T h i n k i n g Specialist’s Thinking G e n er a l i s t ’ s T h i n k i n g T ot a l i s t ’ s T h i n k i n g R e n ai s s a n c e T h i n k i n g
  • 496. 496 Gaining-prominence Thinking Adept Thinking S ou g h t - a f t er T h i n k i n g S e r v i c e - m i n d ed T h i n k i n g Organization-wide Thinking C on v i n c i n g T h i n k i n g Embracing Thinking S t r et c h i n g T h i n k i n g Finding Thinking H o n or i n g T h i n k i n g Articulating Thinking Seeking Thinking Reshuffling Thinking Keen Thinking Prevalent Thinking Acuity Thinking F oc u s i n g T h i n k i n g Changing Thinking Revitalized Thinking Developing Thinking C on q u er i n g T h i n k i n g The all-important Thinking Iroquois Thinking C on n e c t e d n e s s T h i n k i n g
  • 497. 497 U n - c o n n e c t ed n e s s T h i n k i n g “ F ar - r e a c h i n g r a mi f i c at i o n s ” T h i n k i n g “ A v e r y t r ai n e d e y e ” T h i n k i n g “ A k e e n ob s e r v a t i o n ” T h i n k i n g Overseeing Thinking N o n t r a d i t i on a l T h i n k i n g H a r d - e a r n ed T h i n k i n g “ W e l l - gu a r d e d s e c r e t s ” T h i n k i n g How is the thinking above executed? For instance: I f D y n a m i c i s t , I n n o v i s t , C r e a t i v i s t , V e r s a t i l i s t , Fu t u r i s t , S t r a t e g i s t , Connectivist, Linkist and Breakthroughist are g e n u in e to themselves, truth-seeking and solving a dv a n c e d problems, heightened their own practical e n ga g e m e n t towards own boundaryless exercising of their biological computer for Life through strong sense and critico-creative systems thinking based on his / her applied omniscience bliss. We exercised all of the “thinking” above and simultaneously to cope and thrive through situations like this:
  • 498. 498 B y r o n R . W i e n ( C h i e f U . S . I n v e s t m e n t S t r a t e g i s t a t M o r g a n S t a n le y D e a n W i t t e r — 2 0 0 0 ) : “ Fi f t y y e a r s a g o [ 1 9 5 0 ] m o s t i n v e s t o r s s u f f er e d f r o m a l a c k o f u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i on an d a p p r o a c h e d t h e s t oc k m ar k e t w i t h a c e r t ai n f e a r b ec a u s e o f i t . T od a y t h e i n v e s t m e n t e n v i r o n m e n t i s o v e r l o a d ed w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n , an d a m a j o r p r ob l e m f a c i n g i n v e s t or s i s s i f t i n g t h e u s e fu l f r o m t h e u s e l e s s . A n o t h er i s s u e i s t h at g o o d c o m p an i e s a r en ’ t a l w a y s g o o d s t oc k s a n d b a d c o m p a n i e s s o m e t i m e s a r e pr o f i t a b l e i n v e s t m en t s . T i m e i s l i m i t ed a n d w e a r e a l l s e a r c h i n g f o r a w a y t o u n d e r s t an d c o m p l e x m a t e r i a l q u i c k l y an d d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s fr o m i t . ” [ 1 2 5 ] CHAPTER 8 REFLECTING ON THE EDUCATION WE IMMEDIATELY NEED NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ON EDUCATION (1769 - 1821): “ E d u c a t i o n , s t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , h a s s e v e r a l ob j ec t i v e s : o n e n e ed s t o l e ar n h o w t o s p e a k a n d w r i t e c o r r ec t l y , w h i c h i s g en e r a l l y c a l l ed g r a m m a r a n d b e l l e s l e t t e r s . E a c h l y c e u m h a s p r o v i d ed f o r t h i s ob j e c t , a n d t h e r e i s n o w e l l - e d u c a t ed m a n wh o h a s n o t l e a r n e d h i s r h e t or i c . . . . A f t er t h e n e ed t o s p e a k a n d w r i t e c o r r e c t l y c o m e s t h e ab i l i t y t o c ou n t a n d m e a s u r e. T h e l y c eu m s h a v e pr o v i d ed t h i s with classes in MATHEMATICS embracing ar i t h m e t i c a l and MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR DI F F E R E N T
  • 499. 499 B RA N C H E S . . . . T h e el e m e n t s o f s e v e r a l o t h e r fi e l d s c o m e n e x t : c h r on o l o g y , g e o g r a p h y , a n d t h e r u d i m en t s o f h i s t o r y a r e a l s o a p ar t o f t h e ed u c a t i on o f t h e l y c eu m … . A y o u n g m a n wh o l e a v e s t h e l y c e u m a t s i x t e en y e a r s o f a g e t h en c e k n o w s n o t o n l y t h e m ec h a n i c s o f h i s l a n gu a g e a n d t h e c l a s s i c a l au t h o r s , t h e d i v i s i on s o f d i s c ou r s e , t h e d i f f e r en t fi g u r e s o f e l o q u en c e , t h e m e a n s o f e m p l o y i n g t h e m ei t h er t o c a l m o r a r o u s e p a s s i o n s , i n s h o r t , e v e r y t h i n g t h at o n e l e a r n s i n a c ou r s e o n b e l l e s l e t t e r s . H e a l s o would know the principal epochs of h i s t or y , the basic geographical divisions, and how to compute and measure. He has s o m e g en e r a l i d e a o f t h e m o s t s t r i k i n g n at u r a l ph e n o m e n a a n d t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f eq u i l i b r i u m a n d m o v e m e n t b o t h wi t h r e g a r d t o s o l i d s a n d f l u i d s . . . . W h e t h er h e d e s i r e s t o f o l l o w t h e c ar e e r o f t h e b a r r i s t e r , t h a t o f t h e s w o r d , o r E N G L I S H , o r l et t e r s ; i f h e i s d e s t i n e d t o e n t e r i n t o t h e b o d y o f s c h o l a r s , t o b e a g e o g r a p h er , en g i n e er , o r l a n d s u r v e y o r — i n a l l t h e s e c a s e s h e h a s r e c e i v ed a g e n er a l ed u c a t i o n n ec e s s a r y t o b ec o m e e q u i p p e d t o r ec e i v e t h e r e m a i n d e r o f i n s t r u c t i on t h a t h i s c i r c u m s t an c e s r e q u i r e, an d i t i s a t t h i s m o m e n t , w h en h e mu s t m a k e h i s c h o i c e o f a p r o f e s s i o n , t h a t t h e s p ec i a l s t u d i e s p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s . . . ”. [ 1 1 3 ] B o n a p a r t e i n d i c a t e s a s we l l :
  • 500. 500 “ … I f h e w i s h e s t o d e v o t e h i m s e l f t o t h e mi l i t ar y a r t , e n g i n e e r i n g , or artillery, he enters a special school of MATHEMATICS, the p o l y t ec h n i q u e ( i n st i t u t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y c o l l e g e d e a li n g w i t h or d e v o t e d t o v a r i o u s T E C H N I C A L s u b j ec t s ) . W h at h e l e ar n s t h e r e i s only the corollary of wh a t he has learned in e l e m e n t ar y m a t h e m a t i c s , b u t t h e k n o w l e d g e ac q u i r ed i n t h e s e st u d i e s m u s t b e d e v e l o p e d a n d a p p l i e d b e f or e h e en t er s t h e d i f f er e n t b r a n c h e s o f A B S T R A C T M A T H E M A T I CS . N O L O N G E R I S I T A Q U E S T I O N SIMPLY OF EDUCATION, AS IN THE LYCEUM: NOW IT BECOMES A M A T T E R O F A C Q U I R I N G A S C I E N C E …. T h e t o t a l l e n g t h o f t h e c o u r s e o f t h e A r t i l l e r y a n d E N G I N E E R s c h o o l b e i n g fi x e d at t w o y e a r s , w e mu s t d i v i d e t h e c ou r s e i n t o f o u r p a r t s , e a c h c o m pr i s i n g s i x m o n t h s o f s t u d y . S t u d en t s i n t h e fi r s t c l a s s w ou l d l e a r n : 1 . - T h e i n f an t r y m a n eu v e r s o f t h e p l a t o on an d b at t a l i o n . 2. - T h e m a n eu v e r s o f f i e l d a n d s i e g e a r t i l l er y a s w e ll a s t h o s e o f m o r t a r s a n d h o wi t z e r s . 3 . - M ec h a n i c a l m an e u v e r s , t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f e x p l o s i v e s … 4 . - T h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e a t t ac k o f f o r t i fi c a t i o n s . 5 . - T h e e n t i r e p o s i t i o n o f t h e a i d e - m é m o i r e p er t a i n i n g t o f i r i n g, an d f i n a l l y . 6 . - E v e r y t h i n g n ec e s s a r y t o t h e g u n n e r an d t h e en g i n e er i n t h e f i el d . . . . S t u d en t s w i l l b e l ed t o t h e t a r g et r a n g e ; t h e y w i l l l ob b o mb s i n t o t h e t a r g et b ar r e l , f i r e b l a n k c ar t r i d g e s , et c . a n d c o n s t r u c t e v e r y k i n d o f b at t e r y . T h e y w i ll c on t i n u e t h e i r [ i n i t i a l] c o u r s e o f c o n s t r u c t i on . I n t h e t h i r d c l a s s s t u d e n t s w o u l d p u r s u e their STUDIES IN HYDRAULIC ARCHITECTURE, CIVIL and
  • 501. 501 m i l i t ar y . T h e y w ou l d b u s y t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e m o s t c o m p l i c at e d p ar t o f c o n s t r u c t i on an d L E A R N E V E R Y T H I N G N E C E S S A R Y t o d i r ec t a n d s u p e r i n t en d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a f o r t . T h e y w ou l d t a k e c o g n i z a n c e o f t h e d et a i l s o f f o u n d r i e s , mi n e s , et c . . . . T h e f ou r t h c l a s s w o u l d b e d ed i c at e d t o p e r f ec t i n g t h e s t u d en t s i n t h e d i f f e r en t s u b j e c t s t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n s t u d y i n g . T h e y w o u l d g o o v e r a l l o f t h e d et a i l s o f a r s e n a l s , m i n e s , g a l l e r i e s , e t c . — i n b r i e f , e v e r y t h i n g t h at w o u l d c o m p l e t e t h ei r i n st r u c t i o n a s en g i n e er s a n d gu n n er s w o u l d b e l on g t o t h e c u r r i c u lu m o f t h i s c l a s s … . I n g e n er a l , i n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a s c h o o l f o r e n gi n e e r s a n d a r t i l l er y o n e s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e m a n eu v e r s o f a l l t h e gu n s a n d t h e t ac t i c s o f i n f a n t r y a s t h e pr i n c i p a l o b j ec t . W h e n a s t u d e n t i s a d mi t t ed t o t h e S c h o o l o f t h e B at t a l i o n , h e would be forced to p er f o r m the manual of arms and the m a n eu v e r s o f t h e b at t a l i on a t l e a s t t h r e e t i m e s e v er y t e n d a y s … I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e m an e u v e r s o f a r t i l l er y t o k e e p i n m i n d t h a t n ot h i n g i s m o r e u n c e r t ai n t h an t h e a r t o f f i r i n g . T h i s p o r t i o n o f t h e m i l i t a r y ar t i s c l a s s i f i e d a m o n g t h e P H Y S I O - M A T H E M AT I C A L S C I E N C E S , y e t i t s r e s u lt s a r e d u b i o u s ; t h o s e o f pr a c t i c e ar e c e r t a i n . S t u d en t s h a v i n g c o m p l et e d on e c ou r s e i n m e c h a n i c s k n o w n e a r l y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t t h e y m u s t u n d e r st a n d a n d a p p l y … ” [ 1 1 3 ] A n d N a p o l e o n c a r r i e s on a n d a r g u e s :
  • 502. 502 “ …I t i s a p p r o p r i a t e t h e r e o f t o s t r i v e a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g e l s e , a n d n ot a s o n e o f t h e f or e m o s t f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e i n st r u c t i o n , t o s e e t h a t e a c h s t u d en t e x e c u t e s t h e m a n u a l o f a r m s an d a l l o f t h e m a n eu v e r s o f a r t i l l e r y b et t e r t h a n a v et e r a n s o l d i er , t h at h e i s s k i l l ed i n l ar g e p r a c t i c e a n d H AS P E R F E C T K N O W L E D G E o f t h e e m p l o y m e n t o f a r t i l l e r y . N o on e c an b e c o n s i d e r ed a g o o d s t u d en t i f , u p o n g r ad u a t i o n , h e c an n o t g o i m m e d i a t e l y t o a b a t t e r y o r a s i e g e . I t i s p r o p er t h at u p o n j oi n i n g h i s u n i t h e s h o u ld i n st r u c t a c l a s s o f r e c r u i t s i n t h e m a n e u v e r s o f ar t i l l e r y a n d i n f a n t r y a n d i n t h e m e c h an i c a l m a n eu v e r s . H o w o f t en d o y o u n ot s e e o f f i c e r s u n a b l e t o p l ac e a g u n c ar r i a g e , d i r ec t a m ec h a n i c a l m a n eu v e r , f a s h i on e x p l o s i v e s , an d f or c ed t o t a k e l e s s o n f r o m o ld s e r g e a n t s ? … W h e n a s t u d en t c an a i m a g u n b e t t e r t h an t h e s o l d i er , n o o n e w i l l q u e s t i o n e i t h e r h i s r i gh t t o a d v a n c e m en t o r t h e ot h e r ad v a n t a g e s o f h i s e d u c a t i o n . O l d s e r g e a n t s w i l l n ot b e j e a l o u s o f these young officers w h en they never have to t e ac h them a n yt h i n g . ” W h a t w a s t h e p o s i t i o n o f a p r o m i n en t B r i t t o n re g a r d i n g l e a d e r s h i p i n E u r o p e? F o l l o w i n g : S I R I A N H A M I L T O N I N 1 9 2 1 O N N A P O L E O N : “I t i s o n l y p r o g r e s s i v e l y t h a t on e c an f o r m a gr e a t a r m y . C er t a i n l y n o ot h e r c o m m a n d er ( l e a d er ) i n h i s d a y d e v o t e d a s m u c h t h ou g h t a n d
  • 503. 503 attention to organization as Napoleon, who went into painstaking d e t a i l t o a s s u r e t h a t h i s f o r c e s ( t e a m a n d r e s o u r c e s ) w er e d i s c i p l i n ed , p r ep a r e d , an d r e ad y to take the fi e l d (the m a r k et p l a c e a n d i t s c o m p et i t or s ) . T h e a r m y m a r c h e s , w o r k s , a n d h a s i t s b ei n g b y o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d d i s c i p l i n e. ” [ 1 1 3 ] W E R N H E R V O N B R A U N O N ED U C A T I O N , 1 9 1 2 — 1 9 7 7 , (Father of the American Space Program): “ T h e a v e r a g e c i t i z en t o d a y , o f c o u r s e , h a s f a r m o r e s c i en t i fi c information at his disposal than did those greatest of intellects of e a r l i e r t i m e s . Y et p ar a d o x i c a l l y , I t h i n k t h at T H E R E H AS N E V E R B E E N A G R E A T E R N E E D F O R I NC R E A S E D U N D E R S T A N D I N G A N D A P P R E C I A T I O N O F S CI E N C E . I t h a s b e e n s a i d t h at , a lt h o u g h t h e c h o i c e o f d i r ec t i on f o r ou r c i v i li z a t i o n w i l l b e d et e r mi n e d t h r ou g h d e m oc r a t i c p r o c e s s , i t i s t h e r e t h at t h e p r ob l e m b e gi n s . T O M A K E R A T I O N A L C H O I C E S , T H E A V E R A G E CI T I Z E N M U S T U N D E R S T A N D T H E N A T U R E A N D R O L E O F S CI E N C E A T A T I M E WHEN ITS BREADTH AND COMPLEXITY ARE INCREASING A L M O S T E X P O N E N T I A L L Y . . . . C o n v e r s e l y , t h e s c i en t i st , a t a t i m e w h en h e c a n b a r e l y k e e p u p t o d at e i n h i s s p e c i a l t y , m u s t n o t i s o l a t e h i m s e l f i n h i s p a r o c h i a l i n t er e s t . I n s t e a d , h e s h ou l d s e e h i s p r o f e s s i o n a s a p a r t o f t h e l a r g e r w or l d , t o e v a l u a t e h i m s e l f a n d his work in relation to all forces, especially the humanities, which
  • 504. 504 s h a p e an d ad v a n c e s o c i e t y . T H E N E E D , T H E N , I S F O R A N EDUCATIONAL PROCESS RESULTING IN MORE S C I E N T I FI C LITERACY FOR THE LAYMAN, AND MORE LITERACY IN THE H U M A N I T I E S F O R T H E S CI E N T I S T S . . . . M an i n t h i s s c i e n t i fi c a g e i s f r e e o n l y t o t h e e xt e n t t h a t h e h a s a g r a s p on h i m s e l f an d h i s s u r r ou n d i n g s . F R E E D O M — T H E A B I L I T Y T O S P E A K , T H I N K , A C T , A N D V O T E I NT E L L I G E N T L Y — i s b a s e d l a r g e l y on ou r ab i l i t y T O M A K E C H OI C E S gr o w i n g o u t o f o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i s s u e s i n v o l v e d . W i t h e ac h ad v a n c e o f s c i e n c e , t h e r e i s a n i n v i t at i o n t o m o r e u n d er s t a n d i n g . T h i s i s t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e b u r d en b o r n e b y a l l p e o p l e s s i n c e t h e d a w n o f h u m a n i t y . T h er e mu s t b e w i d e s p r e a d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r o l e o f sc i e n c e i n m o d er n s o c i et y , b o t h a s t o i t s l i m i t s a n d o u r d e p e n d e n c e on i t s b a s i c f u n c t i o n a s a t o o l f o r o u r s u r v i v a l . T h i s i s t h e i m p er a t i v e f o r s c i e n t i f i c l i t er a c y . . . . H o w d o w e en c ou r a g e sc i e n t i f i c l i t e r a c y ? I T H I N K T H E P R O B L E M I S H O W T O I N S T I L L I N S T UD E N T S A PERMANENT DESIRE TO LEARN. All youth is endowed with c u r i o s i t y f r o m t h e v er y b e g i n n i n g . W h a t c a n ed u c a t i on p r oc e s s d o , n ot o n l y t o k e e p t h i s n at u r a l c u r i o s i t y a l i v e , b u t t o m a k e i t a p er m a n e n t p a r t o f t h e i n d i vi d u a l d r i v e ? . … ” [ 1 1 4 ] Dr. von Braun also includes the following comment:
  • 505. 505 “ …S t u d e n t s s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e d , b e y o n d l e a r n i n g f a c t s , t o b e i n t r i g u ed b y o b j ec t s a n d e v e n t s i n t h e i r en v i r o n m en t , a s w e l l a s t o b e c o m e a w a r e o f a n d r e s p o n s i v e i n a p o s i t i v e m a n n er t o b e a u t y a n d o r d er l i n e s s i n t h e i r en v i r on m e n t . T H E Y S H O U L D B E T A U G H T TO WILLINGLY SUBJECT THEIR DATA AND IDEAS TO C R I T I C I S M O F T H E I R P E E R S W HI L E AC Q U I R I N G A C R I T I C A L , Q U E S T I O N I N G A T T I T U D E T O W A R D I NF E R E N C E S , H Y P O T H E S E S A N D T H E O R I E S . E a r l y i n ed u c a t i on , t h e y s h o u l d b e le d t o r e c o g n i z e t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f sc i e n t i f i c m o d e s o f i n q u i r y a n d t h e n e e d f o r a d d i t i o n a l , q u i t e d i f f e r en t a p p r o ac h e s t o t h e q u e st f or r e a l i t y … U L T I M A T E L Y , T H E Y S H O U L D B E I NS T I L L E D W I T H A N A P P R E C I A T I O N F O R T H E I NT E R R E L A T E D N E S S O F S C I E N C E , T E C H N O L O G Y A N D S O C I E T Y . . . . T h i s i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s c i en t i fi c m et h o d . By learning the s c i e n t i fi c m e t h od , students will u n d e r s t a n d i t s r o l e i n s o c i e t y a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o t h i n k f or themselves. LEARNING TO THINK FOR ONESELF, IN TURN, IMPARTS A DEEP SENSE OF FREEDOM. ONCE TESTED, AN APPETITE FOR IT IS FORMED WHICH MAY WELL ENDURE T H R O U G H O U T L I F E . . . . B u t i f ou r y o u n g p e o p l e a r e g o i n g t o g a i n the appetite, our schools, our colleges, our universities, must bear a n e v e r g r e at e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . A L L T O O M A N Y T I M E S I N T H E PAST, EDUCATION — PARTICULARLY IN THE S C I E N T I FI C DISCIPLINES — HAS PLACED EXTREMELY HEAVY EMPHASIS ON T R A N S M I T T I N G T H E E S T AB L I S H E D K N O W L E D G E O F T H E P A S T .
  • 506. 506 THERE HAS BEEN A TENDENCY FOR TEACHERS TO ASSIGN, A N D T O E N C O U R A G E R O T E L E A R N I N G , I NS T E A D O F T A K I N G T H E A D M I T T E D L Y M O R E D I F FI C U L T P A T H O F E N C O U R A G I N G S T U D E N T S T O T HI N K F O R T H E M S E L V E S . . . . T H E M A I N S P R I N G OF SCIENCE IS CURIOSITY. SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MEN AND WOMEN WHO FELT A BURNING DESIRE TO KNOW WHAT WAS UNDER THE ROCK, BEYOND THE HI L L S , A C R O S S T H E O C E A N S . T H I S R E S T L E S S B R E E D N O W W A N T T O K N O W W H A T M A K E S A N AT O M W O R K , T H R O U G H WHAT PROCESS LIFE REPRODUCES ITSELF, OR WHAT IS THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE MOON.” [114] I N S P E A K I N G O F KN O W L E D G E , N O T E T H E F R EQ U EN T U S E O F T H E T E R M B Y PR E S I D E N T K E N N E D Y ’ S A D D R E S S A T RICE UNIVERSITY ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1962: “ …W e m e et at a c o l l e g e n ot e d f o r k n o w l e d g e , i n a c i t y n o t ed f or p r o g r e s s , i n a S t at e n ot e d f or s t r en g t h , a n d w e s t a n d i n n e e d o f a l l t h r e e , f o r w e m e e t i n an h o u r o f c h a n g e a n d c h a l l e n g e , i n a d e c ad e o f h o p e a n d f e ar , i n a n a g e o f b ot h k n o w l ed g e a n d i gn o r a n c e . T h e g r e at e r o u r k n o w l e d g e i n c r e a s e s , t h e g r e at e r o u r i gn o r a n c e u n f o l d s . … D e s p i t e t h e s t r i k i n g f a c t t h a t m o s t o f t h e s c i e n t i s t s t h a t t h e w or l d h a s e v er k n o w n a r e a l i v e an d w o r k i n g t od a y , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s N a t i on ’ s o w n s c i en t i fi c m an p o w e r
  • 507. 507 i s d ou b l i n g e v e r y 1 2 y e a r s i n a r at e o f g r o w t h m or e t h a n t h r e e t i m e s t h at o f o u r p o p u l a t i o n a s a w h o l e , d e s p i t e t h a t , t h e v a s t s t r e t c h e s o f t h e u n k n o w n a n d t h e u n an s w e r e d a n d t h e u n f i n i s h e d s t i l l f a r o u t s t r i p ou r c o l l e c t i v e c o m pr e h en s i o n . …. T h i s i s a breathtaking pace, and such a pace cannot help but create new i l l s a s i t d i s p e l s o l d , n e w i g n o r an c e , n e w pr o b l e m s , n e w d a n g er s . S u r e l y t h e o p en i n g v i s t a s o f s p a c e p r o m i s e h i gh c o s t s a n d h ar d s h i p s , a s w e l l a s h i g h r e w a r d . … I f t h i s c a p s u l e h i s t or y o f o u r p r o g r e s s t e ac h e s u s a n yt h i n g , i t i s t h at m a n , i n h i s q u e s t f o r k n o w l e d g e a n d p r o g r e s s , i s d et e r m i n e d a n d c a n n o t b e d et e r r e d . T h e e x p l o r at i o n o f s p a c e w i l l g o a h e ad , w h et h e r w e j o i n i n i t o r n ot , a n d i t i s o n e o f t h e g r e a t a d v e n t u r e s o f a l l t i m e , a n d n o n at i o n w h i c h e x p ec t s t o b e t h e l e ad e r o f ot h e r n at i o n s c a n e x p ec t t o s t a y b e h i n d i n t h e r ac e f o r s p a c e . … W e h a v e v o w e d t h a t w e s h a l l n ot s e e s p a c e f i l l ed wi t h w e a p o n s o f m a s s d e s t r u c t i on , b u t w i t h i n s t r u m e n t s o f k n o w l ed g e a n d u n d er s t a n d i n g . … W e s e t s a i l o n t h i s n e w s e a b ec a u s e t h er e i s n e w k n o w l e d g e t o b e g a i n ed , a n d n e w r i g h t s t o b e w o n , an d t h e y m u s t b e w on an d u s ed f or t h e p r o g r e s s o f a l l p e o p l e. …. T h e g r o w t h o f o u r sc i e n c e a n d ed u c a t i o n will be enriched by new k n o w l ed g e of our u n i v er s e and en v i r o n m en t , b y n e w t e c h n i q u e s o f l e ar n i n g a n d m a p p i n g a n d ob s e r v a t i o n , b y n e w t o o l s a n d c o m pu t e r s f or i n d u st r y , m ed i c i n e , t h e h o m e a s w e l l a s t h e s c h o o l . T ec h n i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , s u c h a s R i c e , w i l l r e a p t h e h a r v e s t o f t h e s e g a i n s . …W e l l , s p a c e i s t h e r e,
  • 508. 508 a n d w e ' r e g o i n g t o c l i m b i t , an d t h e m o o n a n d t h e p l a n e t s ar e t h e r e, a n d n e w h op e s f or k n o w l ed g e a n d p e a c e a r e t h e r e . A n d , t h e r e f or e , a s w e s et s a i l w e a s k G od ' s b l e s s i n g on t h e m o s t h a z a r d o u s a n d d an g e r o u s an d gr e a t e s t ad v e n t u r e o n w h i c h m a n h a s e v e r e m b a r k ed … . ” [ 1 1 5 ] What haven’t the Romanic cultures fail to learn about how t o m a k e s u c c e s s p r e v a i l t h r o u g h t i m e s ? H er e t h e r e ’ s a view: QUESTION: ARE THE R O M AN I C CU L T U R E S IN SOUR OPPOSITION WITH N A P O L EO N BONAPARTE’S AN D WERNHER VON BRAUN’S SUCCESS PRESCRIPTIONS? Y e s , t h e R o m a n i c c u l t u r e s — t o a n a p pa l l i n g a n d u n f o r t u n a t e degree (and with the notorious exception of Leonardo Da Vinci) — have this overwhelming c ou n t e r feeling a ga i n s t Napoleon B o n a p a r t e ’ a n d W e rn h e r v on B r a u n ’ s S u c c e s s P r e s c r i p t i o n s . W h e n the subject matter is addressed, the respective incumbents take it as a violation to their traditions and not as an opportunity to grow beyond any past historic consideration. DR. MALCOLM S. KNOWLES, P H .D . AND AMERICAN A U T H O R O F “ T H E A D U L T L E A R N ER : T H E D E F I N I T I V E
  • 509. 509 CLASSIC IN ADULT EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE D EV E L O P M E N T ” W R O T E O N E D U C A T I O N : “ T h e g r e at e s t d an g e r f o r t h e s u r v i v a l o f t h e pr e s e n t c i v i li z a t i o n i s neither at o m i c w ar , n or environmental p o l lu t i on , n or the e x p l o i t a t i on o f n at u r a l r e s o u r c e s , a n d n or pr e s e n t c r i s e s . T h e u n d e r l y i n g c au s e t o a l l o f t h e a b o v e i s t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n o f m an ’ s ob s o l e s c e n c e … T h e o n l y h o p e s e e m s t o b e a n e l ec t r o s h oc k p r o g r a m t o r e - i n s t i l l t o t h e c u r r e n t ad u lt s t h e c o m p e t en c i e s r e q u i r ed t o f u n c t i o n a d e q u a t e l y u n d e r a m o d e o f p er p e t u a l c h a n g e . T h i s i s a p r o f o u n d n e ed — t h e i m m e a s u r a b l e c h a l l e n g e — t h a t i s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e m o d e r n s o c i et y t o ad u lt e d u c at i o n . ” [ 1 1 2 ] The best learning by you is the one that unveils your own zones of ignorance. I have fun identifying my areas of ignorance so that I can counter them at light speed. To this end, there is a pertinent learning to exercise the soonest: When the mind is into mind p r e p a r ed n e s s , t h e r e i s n o t a m o r e r e s i l i e n t o r g a n t h a n t h e b r a i n . , If you pay the price for a long while, it will allow you to be and accomplish whatever you wish. W h en w i l l y o u a s s u m e t h e r es p o n s i b i l i t y o f y o u r ow n empowerment?
  • 510. 510 L u c i u s A m a e s S e n e c a : “ M o s t p o w e r f u l i s h e wh o h a s h i m s e l f i n h i s power.” [153] I N A N ER A I N W H I C H S O M E R E S E A R C H ER S C L A I M T H A T K N O W L E D G E D O U B L IN G I S T A K I N G P L A C E EV E R Y T W O TO FIVE YEARS, A CLINICAL LEADER INDICATED IN R E M O T E 1 9 9 5 T H E EN S U IN G : D r . K a t h l e e n J e n n i s o n G o o n a n , M . D. : “ A s e c o n d k e y l e s s o n i s t o r e a l i z e t h at l e ad e r s m u s t a c q u i r e n e w k n o w l e d g e , s k i l l s , a n d b e h a v i o r s . F o r m o s t p e o p l e, i m p l e m e n t i n g a s u c c e s s f u l s t r a t e g y r e q u i r e s s i g n i f i c an t n e w l e a r n i n g. A g a i n , t h i s m e a n s m a k i n g a p er s o n a l i n v e s t m en t o f t i m e an d at t e n t i o n o v e r m o n t h s a n d y e a r s . ” [ 9 1] W hy i s Fu t u r et r o n i u m a n e o n o f p e r v a s i v e k n o w l e dg e v i a embedded in the brains of the o wn e r s h i p holders of intellectual capital (IC)? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ W e a l t h i s n o w b a s ed on k n o w l e d g e … a n d h o w o n e p er s o n c a n g e n er a t e m o r e w e a lt h t h an t h a t pr o d u c e d b y a l l p e o p l e l i v i n g i n I s r a e l , M a l a y s i a , or C h i l e o v e r t h e c ou r s e o f a year.” [163]
  • 511. 511 Technology, change and our children? J u a n E n r i q u e z : “ W e ar e i n a t i m e w a r p . T e c h n o l o g y a c c e l e r a t e s t r e n d s , b e t h e y p o s i t i v e o r n e g at i v e . W e a r e j u st b e g i n n i n g t o g l i m p s e h o w p r o f o u n d l y d i f f e r e n t o u r c h i ld r en ’ s l i v e s w i ll b e i n a post-genomics world.” [163] Is there any educational imperative linked to o wn e c o n o m i c s a n d t h e f a s t - p a c e dr i v i n g f or c e s ? “ T h e s i m p l e r u l e i s : T h e m o r e e d u c a t i o n y o u g et , t h e m o r e d e s i r a b l e y o u a r e i n t h e j o b m a r k e t a n d t h e h i g h e r y o u r p o t en t i a l income.” [160] CHAPTER 8 A P P E N D I X O F D E F I N I T I O N O F A P P L I E D O MN I S C I E N C E Before defining “applied omniscience” for you, vastly used verbally and executions by scholars, academicians, scientist and Nobel Laureates, I will include the reflection on exactly this subject matter by a “Doctor of Science.” His name is Vernon Grose. Dr. Vernon Grose, DSc.: “A p r i m er on the development, a p p l i c a t i o n , a n d r e q u i r e m en t o f ‘ s y s t e m s t h i n k i n g ’ t o ob t a i n an
  • 512. 512 o r d e r ed , g l o b a l m a n a g e m e n t p er s p e c t i v e — a c r i t i c a l n e e d i f h i s t o r i c a l r i s k m a n a g e m e n t i s t o b e t r a n s l a t ed [ i n a d v a n c e] f r o m r e a c t i o n i n t o p r e v e n t i o n o f r i s k [ m a n y c a l l r i s k s “ p r ob l e m s ” ] … . T h e s y s t e m s a p p r o a c h i s g o d l i k e — a t l e a s t i n p er s p e c t i v e . I t a i m s t o l o o k a t an y s i t u at i o n wi t h O M N I S C I E N C E — T O T A L I T Y O F K N O W L E D G E … . O f c o u r s e , i t n e v e r s u c c e ed s b ec a u s e o f h u m a n li m i t at i o n s . B u t t h e g o a l r e m a i n s . An d s u c h g o a l i s e s s e n t i a l i f r i s k i s t o b e m an a g e d e f f ec t i v e l y . E v e r y p o s s i b l e r i s k m u s t b e c o n s i d er e d b e f o r e s y s t e m a t i c m a n a g e m e n t o f r i s k c an oc c u r . I f t h i s s e e m s g r a n d i o s e , i t i s n ’ t m e a n t t o b e . I n f a i l i n g t o t ak e s u c h a l o f t y a n d a l l - en c o m p a s s i n g v i e w, m a n a g er s a r e v u ln e r a b l e t o b e i n g b l i n d - s i d e d b y a n o v e r l o o k e d r i s k wh i l e b e l i e v i n g t h at t h e y have everything under control.” [99] T h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e n at u r e o f N a t u r e ? Pierre Simon de Laplace (1749 – 1827), to this object, indicates: “ A n i n t e l l i g e n c e t h at k n e w , f o r a g i v en m o m e n t , a l l t h e f o r c e s t h at g a v e l i f e t o N a t u r e a n d t h e r e s p ec t i v e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e i n v o l v e d c o n s t i t u en t b ei n g s , a n d i f i n a d d i t i o n w e r e s u f f i c i e n t l y p o w er f u l t o a n a l y z e a l l t h e s e d a t a , h e w o u ld e n c o m p a s s i n a s i n g l e f or m u l a t h e m o t i o n b y t h e l ar g e r b od i e s i n t h e u n i v er s e a n d t h e l i g h t e s t o n e s w i t h i n t h e a t o m : t h er e n o t h i n g w o u ld b e u n k n o w n a n d b o t h t h e p a s t an d t h e f u t u r e w ou l d b e b e f o r e h i s e y e s . ” [ 1 3 0 ]
  • 513. 513 Applied Omniscience Defined By This Author: B e g i n n i n g o f th e D e f i n i t i o n o f O mn i s c i e n c e . “Total knowledge; knowing everything … One having total k n o w l e d g e … P a n s o p h y : ‘ u n i v e r s a l k n o w l e d g e or wi s d o m … s y s t e m or w o r k e mb r a c i n g a l l k n o w l e d g e … p o l y m a t h : A p e r s o n o f g r e at or v a r i e d , u p d at e d l e a r n i n g … k n o w i n g … a l l - k n o w i n g n e s s … Pantology … Possessing knowledge, information, or u n d e r s t a n d i n g … s h o w i n g c le v e r a w a r en e s s a n d r e s o u r c e f u ln e s s ; s h r e w d … su g g e s t i v e o f s e c r et o r pr i v a t e k n o w l e d g e … c o n s c i o u s … having infinite a w a r en e s s , u n d e r s t an d i n g , an d insight … p o s s e s s e d o f u n i v e r s a l o r c o m p l e t e k n o w l e d g e … t h e o mn i s c i en t n ar r at o r … a p e r s o n o f g r e a t a n d v a r i e d l e a r n i n g … o n e w h o h a s r e j e c t e d a u t h o r i t y an d d o g m a i n f a v o r o f r at i o n a l i n q u i r y a n d s p e c u l a t i o n u n d e r t h e m o s t r i g o r o u s a p p l i c a t i on o f t h e s c i e n t i f i c m et h o d … l e a r n i n g ; e r u d i t i on ; t e a c h e r s o f g r e at k n o w l e d g e ; o n e w h o t a k e s a d v i c e o r i n f o r m a t i o n fr o m o t h er s … f a m i li a r i t y o r a w a r en e s s o r u n d er s t a n d i n g g a i n e d t h r ou g h e x p e r i e n c e , e x p er t i s e a n d s t u d y … t h e su m o r r an g e o f w h a t h a s b e en p e r c e i v e d , d i s c o v e r ed , l e a r n ed o r i n t h e p r o c e s s t o b e u n v ei l e d t h r o u g h s y s t e m a t i c an d s y s t e m i c ( a s w e l l a s b e f o r e - t h e f ac t s m a n n er ) k n o w l e d g e c r e a t i o n … s p e c i fi c i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t s o m e t h i n g …
  • 514. 514 n ar r at i v e a n d n u m e r i c a l d at a g a t h er e d an d a s s i m i l a t ed b y i n - depth and in-the-field research of patterns stemmed by subtle, o v e r t an d c o v e r t d r i vi n g f o r c e s … t h e c on g r u en t a n d c o h e s i v e m a s t e r y o f m an y a r e a s o f a c t i o n ab l e l e a r n i n g r e f l ec t ed i n a s c h o l a r ’ s w o r k … a c o l l e c t i o n o f f a c t s a n d d a t a ( A m a n ’ s j u d g m en t c a n n ot b e b et t e r t h a n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t e c h n o c r a t i c m er i t s o n w h i c h h e h a s b a s e d i t on ) … t h at wh o c on s t r u c t s , c o a l e s c e e x p e r t s y s t e m s … d e e p e x t e n s i v e a n d pr a c t i c i n g l e a r n i n g … t h e i n st r u c t ed o n e t h at l e a r n s f r o m i n st r u c t i n g ot h e r s t o g e t fu r t h e r i n s t r u c t ed … the methods, d i s c i p l i n e, t ec h n i q u e s and attainments via ac a d e m i a , p e r s o n a l , p r o f e s s i o n a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , a c t u a l s o l v i n g of complex p r ob l e m s [“advanced p r o b l e m s ”] and in-the- b a t t l e f i e l d e x p e r i en c e … e x t e n s i v e k n o w l e d g e … i n fi n i t e k n o w l ed g e … c o n v e r g en c e o f a l l w i s d o m s b r ou g h t i n t o o n e u l t i m a t e o v e r - w i sd o m w i t h t h e s y s t e m s a p p r o ac h a n d t h e a p pl i e d o m n i s c i en c e p er s p e c t i v e … t h e s t at e or q u a l i t y … o f h a v i n g i n fi n i t e k n o w l e d g e; k n o w i n g a l l t h i n g s … u n i v e r s a l k n o w l e d g e o r w i s d o m … a p er s o n o f f o c u s a n d y e t gr e a t d i v er s i f i e d l e a r n i n g … i n c lu d i n g i n o n e v i e w … e v e r y t h i n g wi t h i n a n d b e y o n d s i g h t , i n s i g h t , f a r - s i g h t , i n t u i t i v e n e s s , c o u n t e r - i n t u i t i v e n e s s … h a v i n g i n f i n i t e d i sc e r n e d i n s i g h t f u l n e s s … a p er s o n o f en c y c l o p ed i c l e a r n i n g … ‘ o m n i s c i e n t i a ’ k n o w l e d g e … h a v i n g l e ar n ed a g r e a t d e g r e e i n s e v e r a l u n c on n ec t ed fields of study and en g i n e er i n g … e d u c at e d , k n o w l e d g e a b l e; w i s e , s a p i en t … t h a t p o s s e s s i n g g r e at w i s d o m a n d
  • 515. 515 sound judgment … that who has been and remains schooled by the u n i v er s i t y o f ‘ h a r d k n oc k s ’ an d t h e ‘ c o l l e g e o f l i f e ’ … o n e t h at p r e s u m e a n d e f f ec t s t h at a l l t h i n g s h a v e n o t b e e n d o n e s u f f i c i e n t l y optimally … a self-dealing person with his mindful and well- s t o m a c h e d t r a n s f o r m a t i on t o w a r d s p o s s e s s i n g a n d u t i li z i n g a l l - k n o w i n g n e s s … h e a l t h y s t u b b o r n n e s s wi t h t h e lu c r a t i v e n an o - g r an u l ar i t y o f d e t a i l a s i t i s p o n d e r e d a n d m a r s h a l e d t h r ou g h a m a g n i t u d e o f p r a c t i c a l s u b j ec t m a t t er s … P r o f o u n d k n o w l e d g e , deep knowledge, t ot a l command or mastery; specialism, s p e c i a l i z e d o r s p e c i a l k n o w l e d g e ; e x p e r t i s e , p r o f i c i en c y ; w i d e or vast or extensive knowledge, g en e r a l i t y , general knowledge (forever u p d at e d ) , i n t er d i s c i p li n a r y and c r o s s - d i sc i p li n a r y k n o w l e d g e ; i m p l e m e n t a b l e en c y c l o p ed i c k n o w l ed g e … ” And the applied omniscience definition here resumes: “ … k n o wi n g a n d e v e r - l e a r n i n g o f a l l h a p p en i n g s i n t h e l i f e , r e s e a r c h , f i n d i n g s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t s o f a p e o p l e , c o u n t r y , n a t i on , c o m m o n w e a l t h , i n s t i t u t i on , et c . … a l l s c i e n t i f i c a c c o u n t s o f a s system of n at u r a l p h en o m e n a … et e r n a l l e ar n i n g of the i n c r e a s i n g l y ‘ m o s t d a r i n g ’ y et f ac t - d r i v e n l i t e r a t u r e … h i d d en k n o w l e d g e , r e c on d i t e k n o w l e d g e … d e v e l o p m e n t o f c h a r ac t er a n d m en t a l p o w e r s t h r ou g h s y s t e m a t i c s e l f - i n s t r u c t i o n a n d p e r v a s i v e i n t e l l e c t u a l a c t i v i t i e s t o a m p l i f y a n d r e fi n e a n d s o p h i s t i c a t e o n e ’ s
  • 516. 516 o w n t a l en t s , s k i l l s , d e xt e r i t i e s a n d pr a c t i c e s … i n c l u d i n g b od y ( b od i e s ) o f k n o w l e d g e o f h e r m e t i c a n d s ec r e t i v e s o c i e t i e s a n d associations (regardless of an Alemmanic Germanic Bavarian g e n e s i s) … h er m e n eu t i c s , t h a t i s : t h e s c i en c e o f i n t e r p r et a t i on an d e x p l a n at i o n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e b r a n c h o f t h e o l o g y t h at d e a l s w i t h t h e g e n er a l p r i n c i p l e s o f B i b l i c a l i n t e r pr e t a t i o n … h e l p f u l g n o s i s a n d p r o d u c t i v e o m n i - gn o s i s … e x p a n s i o n i s t s c i e n t i f i c m od e s o f i n q u i r y a n d t h e n e e d f or a d d i t i o n a l y e t q u i t e d i f f e r en t a p p r o a c h e s — t o g et h e r w i t h t h e e v e r - e m e r g en c e a n d a l w a y s m o r e e x t en d ed an d e x p a n d e d m o n o l i t h i c c on v e r g e n c e o f m a n y k n o w l ed g e s p e c i a lt i e s ( i n s i d e a n d ou t s i d e t h e r e a l m s o f t od a y ’ s ‘ s c i en t i f i c t r u t h ’ - b a s e d s c i e n c e s ) , t o t h e a l w a y s - i n c r e a s i n g q u e s t f o r r e a li t y ( i n c lu d i n g virtual reality), also including the search for actionable answers t o q u e s t i on s l i k e t h e o r i g i n o f t h e U n i v er s e / M u l t i v e r s e a n d i t s f o r t u n a t e l y s t u n n i n g d e r i v a t i v e s ( r u li n g i n a n s t u n n i n g a r r a y o f t an g i b l e an d i n t a n g i b l e s u b - c o s m o s an d s u b - mu l t i v e r s e s ) a s p er most p r o m i n en t physicists, a s t r o p h y s i c i st s an d astronomers’ f i n d i n g s , a m o n g t h o s e o f o t h er s … d e sc r i pt i v e k n o w l e d g e … domain-specific k n o w l ed g e … expert knowledge … factual k n o w l e d g e … i m p l i c i t k n o w l ed g e … u n - pr e v a l e n t k n o w l e d g e … e x p l i c i t k n o w l e d g e … e x pr e s s k n o w l e d g e … u t t e r k n o w l e d g e … p r e s c r i p t i v e k n o w l ed g e … pr o c e d u r e k n o w l e d g e … j u r i s p r u d e n c e knowledge … knowledge base … k n o w l ed g e engineering…. knowledge r e - en g i n e er i n g an d / o r r e - en g i n e er e d an d / or
  • 517. 517 o v e r h au l e d … u n l i mi t ed knowledge of a system, its use en v i r o n m en t s , and its risks...everything known pl u s full d i s c l o s u r e o f a l l c o r r e s p o n d i n g u n c er t a i n t i e s a s i t i s u s ed i n s c i e n t i f i c w or k . . . T h e o u t p u t t ed k n o w l e d g e f r o m a n d b y t h e m o s t d e t er m i n ed and pervasive truth-seeking effort u n d er the m a x i mu m a p p l i c a t i o n o f t r u t h - s e e k i n g . ” En d o f t h e D e f i n i t i o n o f O mn i s c i e n c e . CHAPTER 8 T H E M O S T T H O U G H T FU L S T A T E M E N T B Y A N Y A M E R I C A N P R ES I D E N T T O D A T E ! “ W e c h o o s e t o g o t o t h e m o o n i n t h i s d ec a d e a n d d o t h e o t h er t h i n g s , n o t b ec a u s e t h e y ar e e a s y , b u t b e c au s e t h e y a r e h a r d , b e c au s e t h a t g o a l wi l l s e r v e t o o r g a n i z e an d m e a s u r e t h e b e s t o f ou r e n er g i e s a n d s k i l l s , b ec a u s e t h a t c h a l l e n g e i s on e t h a t w e a r e w i l l i n g t o a c c e p t , o n e w e ar e u n w i l li n g t o p o s t p o n e , an d on e w h i c h w e i n t e n d t o w i n , an d t h e ot h e r s , t o o . I t i s f or t h e s e r e a s o n s t h a t I r e g ar d t h e d e c i s i o n l a s t y e a r t o s h i ft o u r e f f o r t s i n s p ac e f r o m l o w t o h i g h g e a r a s a m o n g t h e m o s t i m p o r t an t d e c i s i o n s t h at will be made during my i n c u m b en c y in the office of the P r e s i d e n c y . ” B y J o h n F . K e n n e d y , A d d r e s s a t R i c e U n iv e r s i t y o n
  • 518. 518 t h e N a t i o n ' s S pa c e E f f o r t De l i v e r e d in H o u s t o n , T e x a s , S e p t e m b e r 12, 1962. [55] CHAPTER 8 N A S A L E W I S R E S E A R C H C E N T E R , T H E O H I O A ER O S P A C E INSTITUTE, THE VISION-21 SYMPOSIUM AND SAN DIEGO S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y P R O F ES S O R V E R N O R V I N G E ( M A R C H , 1993) [63] Beginning of literal citation of the Singularity forum and stemming article: “Vernor Vinge Department of Mathematical Sciences San Diego State University (c) 1993 by Vernor Vinge ( T h i s a r t i c l e m a y b e r e p r o d u c e d f o r n o n c o m m e r c i a l pu r p o s e s i f i t i s c o p i e d i n i t s e n t i r e t y , i n c lu d i n g t h i s n o t i c e . ) The original version of this article was presented at the VISION-21 Symposium sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Center and the Ohio Aerospace Institute, March 30-31, 1993. A slightly changed v e r s i o n a p p e a r e d i n t h e W i n t e r 1 9 9 3 i s s u e o f W h o l e E a r t h R e v ie w .
  • 519. 519 Abstract W i t h i n t h i r t y y e a r s , w e w i l l h a v e t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l m e a n s t o c re a t e s u pe r h u m a n i n t e l l i g e n c e . S h o r t l y a f te r , t h e h u m a n e r a w i l l b e ended. Is such progress avoidable? If not to be avoided, can events be g u i d e d s o t h a t w e m a y s u r v iv e ? T h e s e q u e s t i o n s a re i n v e s t i g a t e d . S o m e p o s s i b l e a n s w e r s ( a n d s o m e f u r t h e r d a n g e r s ) a re p r e s e n t e d . What is The Singularity? T h e a c c e le r a t i o n o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l p r o g r e s s h a s b e e n t h e c e n t r a l f e a tu r e o f t h i s c e n t u r y . I a r g u e i n t h i s pa p e r t h a t w e a r e o n t h e e d g e o f c h a n g e c o m p a ra b l e t o t h e r i s e o f h u m a n l if e o n E a r t h . T h e precise cause of this c ha n g e is the imminent creation by t e c h n o l o g y o f e n t i t i e s w i t h g r e a t e r t h a n h u m a n in t e l l i g e n c e . T h e r e a re s e v e r a l m e a n s b y w h i c h s c i e n c e m a y a c h i e v e t h i s b r e a k t h r o u g h (and this is another reason for having confidence that the event will occur): * T h e r e m a y b e d e v e l o p e d c o m p u t e r s t h a t a re “ a wa k e ” a n d s u pe r h u m a n l y intelligent. (To date, there has been much c o n t r o v e r s y a s t o w h e t h e r w e c a n c r e a t e h u m a n e qu i v a l e n c e in a machine. But if the answer is “yes, we can”, then there is little
  • 520. 520 doubt that beings more intelligent can be constructed shortly thereafter.) * Large computer networks (and their associated users) may “wake u p ” a s a s u pe r h u m a n l y i n t e l l i g e n t e n t i t y . * Computer/human interfaces may become so intimate that users may reasonably be considered superhumanly intelligent. * B i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c e ma y p r o v i d e m e a n s t o i m p r o v e n a tu r a l h u m a n i n t e l le c t . T h e f i r s t t h r e e p o s s i b i l i t i e s d e p e n d i n l a r g e pa r t o n i m p r o v e m e n t s in computer hardware. Progress in computer hardware has f o l l o w e d a n a ma z i n g l y s t e a d y c u rv e in t h e l a s t f e w d e c a d e s [ _ S _ 1 7 ] . B a s e d la r g e l y o n t h i s t r e n d , I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e c r e a t i o n o f greater than human intelligence will occur during the next thirty y e a r s . ( C h a r l e s P l a t t [ _ S _ 2 0] h a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t A I e n t h u s i a s t s h a v e b e e n m a k i n g c l a i m s l i ke t h i s f o r t h e la s t t h i r t y y e a r s . J u s t s o I ' m n o t g u i l t y o f a r e l a t i v e - t i m e a m b i g u i t y , l e t m e m o r e s p e c i f ic : I ' l l b e s u r p r i s e d i f t h i s e v e n t o c c u r s b e f o r e 2 0 0 5 o r a f te r 2 0 3 0 . ) W ha t a r e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h i s e v e n t ? W h e n g r e a t e r - t h a n - human intelligence drives progress, that progress will be much more rapid. In fact, there seems no reason why progress itself w o u l d n o t i n v o l v e t h e c re a t i o n o f s t i l l m o r e i n t e l l i g e n t e n t i t i e s — on a still-shorter time scale. The best analogy that I see is with the
  • 521. 521 e v o l u t i o n a r y pa s t : A n i m a l s c a n a da p t t o p r o b l e m s a n d m a k e i n v e n t i o n s , bu t o f t e n n o f a s t e r t h a n n a tu r a l s e le c t i o n c a n d o i t s w o r k — t h e w o r l d a c t s a s i t s o w n s i m u l a t o r i n t h e c a se o f n a t u r a l selection. We humans have the ability to internalize the world and conduct “what if's” in our heads; we can solve many problems t h o u s a n d s o f t i m e s f a s t e r t h a n n a t u r a l s e l e c t i o n . N o w , b y c re a t i n g the means to execute those simulations at much higher speeds, we a re e n t e r i n g a r e g i m e a s r a d i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m o u r h u m a n p a s t a s we humans are from the lower animals. F r o m t h e h u m a n p o i n t o f v i e w t h i s c h a n g e w i l l b e a t h r o w i n g a wa y o f a l l t h e p r e v i o u s r u l e s , pe r h a p s i n t h e b l i n k o f a n e y e , a n e x p o n e n t i a l r u n a w a y b e y o n d a n y h o p e o f c o n t r o l . De v e l o p m e n t s t h a t b e f o r e w e r e t h o u g h t m i g h t o n l y h a p p e n i n “ a m i l l i o n ye a r s ” ( i f e v e r) w i l l l i k e l y h a p p e n i n t h e n e x t c e n tu r y . ( I n [ _ S _ 5] , G r e g B e a r pa i n t s a p i c tu r e o f t h e m a j o r c ha n g e s h a p p e n i n g in a m a t t e r o f hours.) I t h i n k i t ' s f a i r t o c a l l t h i s e v e n t a s i n g u la r i t y ( “ t h e S i n g u l a r i t y ” f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s pa p e r ) . I t i s a p o i n t w h e r e o u r o l d m o d e l s m u s t b e d i s c a r d e d a n d a n e w r e a l i t y ru l e s . A s w e m o v e c l o s e r t o this point, it will loom vaster and vaster over human affairs till the n o t i o n b e c o m e s a c o m m o n p l a c e . Ye t w h e n i t f i n a l l y h a p p e n s i t m a y still be a great surprise and a greater unknown. In the 1950s there
  • 522. 522 w e r e v e r y f e w w h o s a w i t : S ta n U la m [ _S _ 2 8 ] p a r a p h r a s e d J o h n von Neumann as saying: O n e c o n v e r s a t i o n c e n t e r e d o n t h e e v e r a c c e le r a t i n g p r o g r e s s o f t e c h n o l o g y a n d c h a n g e s i n t h e m o d e o f h u ma n l i f e , w h i c h g i v e s t h e appearance of approaching some e s s e n t i a l s i n g u la r i t y in t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e r a c e b e y o n d w h i c h h u ma n a f f a i r s , a s w e k n o w t h e m , c ou l d n o t c o n t i n u e . V o n N e u m a n n e v e n u se s t h e t e r m s i n g u l a r i t y , t h o u g h i t a p p e a r s h e i s t h i n k i n g o f n o r m a l p r o g r e s s , n o t t h e c r e a t i o n o f s u pe r h u m a n i n t e l le c t . ( F o r m e , t h e s u pe r h u m a n i t y i s t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e S i n g u l a r i t y . W i t h o u t t h a t w e w o u l d g e t a g l u t o f t e c h n ic a l r i c h e s , n e v e r p r o p e r l y a b s o r b e d ( se e [ _ S _ 2 5] ) . ) In the 1960s there was recognition of some of the implications of s u pe r h u m a n i n t e l l i g e n c e . I . J . G o o d w r o t e [ _S _ 1 1 ] : Let an ultraintelligent machine be defined as a machine that can f a r s u r p a s s a l l t h e i n t e l l e c tu a l a c t iv i t i e s o f a n y m a n h o w e v e r c l e v e r . S i n c e t h e d e s i g n o f m a c h i n e s i s o n e o f t h e s e in t e l l e c t u a l a c t i v i t i e s , a n u l t r a i n t e l l i g e n t m a c h i n e c ou l d d e s i g n e v e n b e t t e r machines; there would then unquestionably be an “intelligence e x p l o s i o n , ” a n d t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e o f ma n w o u l d b e l e f t f a r b e h i n d .
  • 523. 523 T hu s t h e f i r s t u l t r a i n t e l l i g e n t m a c h i n e i s t h e _ la s t _ i n v e n t i o n t h a t man need ever make, provided that the machine is docile enough to tell us how to keep it under control. ... It is more probable than not that, within the twentieth century, an ultraintelligent machine w i l l b e b u i l t a n d t h a t i t w i l l b e t h e la s t i n v e n t i o n t h a t m a n n e e d make. G o o d h a s c a p t u r e d t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e r u n a w a y , b u t d o e s n o t pu r s u e i t s m o s t d i s t u r b i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s . An y i n t e l l i g e n t m a c h i n e o f t h e sort he describes would not be humankind's “tool” — any more t h a n h u m a n s a re t h e t o o l s o f r a b b i t s o r r o b i n s o r c h i m p a n z e e s . T h r o u g h t h e ' 6 0 s a n d ' 7 0 s a n d ' 8 0 s , r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e c a ta c l y s m s p r e a d [ _ S _ 2 9 ] [ _ S _ 1 ] [ _ S _ 3 1 ] [ _S _ 5 ] . P e r h a p s i t w a s t h e s c i e n c e - f i c t i o n w r i t e r s w h o f e l t t h e f i r s t c o n c r e t e i m pa c t . Af t e r a l l , t h e “ h a r d ” s c i e n c e - f i c t i o n w r i t e r s a r e t h e o n e s w h o t r y t o w r i t e s p e c if i c s t o r i e s a b o u t a l l t h a t t e c h n o l o g y m a y d o f o r u s. M o r e a n d m o r e , t h e s e w r i t e r s f e l t a n o p a q u e wa l l a c r o s s t h e f u t u r e . O n c e , t h e y c ou l d pu t s u c h f a n t a s i e s m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s in t h e f u tu r e [ _S _ 2 4 ] . N o w t h e y s a w t h a t t h e i r m o s t d i l i g e n t e x t r a p o l a t i o n s r e s u l t e d in the unknowable ... soon. Once, galactic empires might have seemed a Post-Human domain. Now, sadly, even interplanetary ones are. W ha t a b o u t t h e ' 9 0 s a n d t h e ' 0 0 s a n d t h e ' 1 0 s , a s w e s l i d e t o w a r d the edge? How will the approach of the Singularity spread across
  • 524. 524 t h e h u ma n w o r l d v i e w ? F o r a w h i l e ye t , t h e g e n e r a l c r i t i c s o f m a c h i n e s a p i e n c e w i l l h a v e g o o d p r e s s . Af t e r a l l , t i l l w e h a v e hardware as powerful as a human brain it is probably foolish to t h i n k w e ' l l b e a b l e t o c r e a t e h u m a n e qu i v a l e n t ( o r g r e a t e r ) i n t e l l i g e n c e . ( T he r e i s t h e f a r - f e t c h e d p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t w e c o u l d m a k e a h u m a n e qu i v a l e n t o u t o f l e s s p o w e r f u l h a r d w a r e , i f w e w e r e willing to give up speed, if we were willing to settle for an a r t i f i c i a l b e i n g w h o w a s l i t e r a l l y s l o w [ _ S _ 3 0] . B u t i t ' s m u c h m o r e likely that devising the software will be a tricky process, involving lots of false starts and experimentation. If so, then the arrival of s e l f - a wa r e ma c h i n e s w i l l n o t h a p p e n t i l l a f t e r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f hardware that is substantially more powerful than humans' natural e qu i p m e n t . ) B u t a s t i m e p a s s e s , w e s h o u l d s e e m o r e s y m p t o m s . T he d i l e m m a f e l t b y s c i e n c e f i c t i o n w r i t e r s w i l l b e pe r c e i v e d i n o t h e r c r e a t iv e endeavors. (I have heard thoughtful comic book writers worry about how to have spectacular effects when everything visible can be produced by the technologically commonplace.) We will see automation replacing higher and higher level jobs. We have tools right now (symbolic math programs, cad/cam) that release us from m o s t l o w - l e v e l d r u d g e r y . O r pu t a n o t h e r w a y: T h e w o r k t h a t i s truly productive is the domain of a steadily smaller and more elite f ra c t i o n o f h u m a n i t y . I n t h e c o m i n g o f t h e S i n g u l a r i t y , w e a r e
  • 525. 525 seeing the predictions of _true_ technological unemployment finally come true. Another symptom of progress toward the S i n gu l a r i t y : ideas themselves should spread ever faster, and even the most radical will quickly become commonplace. When I began writing science f i c t i o n i n t h e m i d d l e ' 6 0 s , i t s e e m e d v e r y e a s y t o f in d i d e a s t h a t t o o k d e c a d e s t o pe r c o l a t e in t o t h e c u l t u r a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s ; n o w t h e l e a d t i m e s e e m s m o r e l i k e e i g h t e e n m o n t h s . ( Of c ou r s e , t h i s c ou l d just be me losing my imagination as I get old, but I see the effect in others too.) Like the shock in a compressible flow, the S i n g u l a r i t y m o v e s c l o s e r a s w e a c c e le r a t e t h r o u g h t h e c r i t i c a l speed. A n d w h a t o f t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e S i n g u l a r i t y i t s e l f ? W ha t c a n b e s a i d o f i t s a c tu a l a p p e a r a n c e ? S in c e i t i n v o l v e s a n i n t e l le c t u a l r u n a w a y , it will probably occur faster than any technical revolution seen so far. The precipitating event will likely be unexpected — perhaps e v e n t o t h e r e s e a r c h e r s i n v o l v e d . ( “B u t a l l o u r p r e v i o u s m o d e l s w e r e c a t a t o n i c ! W e w e r e j u s t t w e a k i n g s o m e pa r a m e t e r s . . . . ” ) . I f networking is widespread enough (into u b i qu i t o u s embedded systems), it may seem as if our artifacts as a whole had suddenly wakened.
  • 526. 526 And what happens a month or two (or a day or two) after that? I have only analogies to point to: The rise of humankind. We will be i n t h e P o s t - Hu m a n e r a . An d f o r a l l m y r a m p a n t t e c h n o l o g i c a l optimism, sometimes I think I'd be more comfortable if I were r e g a r d i n g t h e s e t r a n s c e n d e n t a l e v e n t s f r o m o n e t h o u s a n d ye a r s remove ... instead of twenty. Can the Singularity be Avoided? Well, maybe it won't happen at all: Sometimes I try to imagine the s y m p t o m s t h a t w e s h o u l d e x pe c t t o s e e i f t h e S i n g u l a r i t y i s n o t t o d e v e l o p . T he r e a re t h e w i d e l y r e s p e c t e d a r g u m e n t s o f P e n r o s e [ _ S _ 1 9 ] a n d S e a r l e [ _S _ 2 2 ] a g a i n s t t h e p r a c t i c a l i t y o f m a c h i n e s a p i e n c e . I n A u gu s t o f 1 9 9 2 , T h in k i n g M a c h i n e s C o r p o r a t i o n h e l d a workshop to investigate the question “How We Will Build a M a c h i n e t h a t T h i n k s ” [ _ S _ 2 7 ] . A s y o u m i g h t gu e s s f r o m t h e workshop's title, the participants were not especially supportive of t h e a r g u m e n t s a g a i n s t m a c h i n e i n t e l l i g e n c e . I n f a c t, t h e r e w a s general agreement that minds can exist on nonbiological substrates and that algorithms are of central importance to the existence of m i n d s . H o w e v e r , t h e r e wa s m u c h d e b a t e a b o u t t h e r a w h a r d w a r e power that is present in organic brains. A minority felt that the la r g e s t 1 9 9 2 c o m p u t e r s w e r e w i t h i n t h r e e o r d e r s o f m a g n i t u d e o f t h e p o w e r o f t h e h u ma n b r a i n . T he ma j o r i t y o f t h e pa r t i c i p a n t s agreed with Moravec's estimate [_S_17] that we are ten to forty
  • 527. 527 y e a r s a wa y f r o m h a r d w a r e p a r i t y . An d y e t t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r m i n o r i t y w h o p o i n t e d t o [ _ S _ 7 ] [ _S _ 2 1 ] , a n d c o n j e c t u r e d t h a t t h e computational competence of single neurons may be far higher than generally believed. If so, our present computer hardware might be as much as _ten_ orders of magnitude short of the e qu i p m e n t w e c a r r y a r o u n d i n o u r h e a d s . I f t h i s i s t r u e ( o r f o r t h a t m a t t e r , i f t h e P e n r o s e o r S e a r le c r i t i q u e i s v a l i d ) , we m i g h t n e v e r see a Singularity. Instead, in the early '00s we would find our h a r d w a r e pe r f o r m a n c e c u rv e s b e g i n n i n g t o l e v e l o f f — t h i s b e c a u s e of our inability to automate the design work needed to support f u r t h e r h a r d w a r e i m p r o v e m e n t s . W e ' d e n d u p w i t h s o m e _v e r y _ p o w e r f u l h a r d w a r e , bu t w i t h o u t t h e a b i l i t y t o p u s h i t f u r t h e r . Commercial digital signal processing might be awesome, giving an analog appearance even to digital operations, but nothing would e v e r “ w a k e u p ” a n d t h e r e w o u l d n e v e r b e t h e in t e l l e c t u a l r u n a wa y w h i c h i s t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e S in g u l a r i t y . I t w o u l d l i k e l y b e s e e n a s a g o l d e n a ge . . . a n d i t w o u l d a l s o b e a n e n d o f p r o g r e s s . T h i s i s v e r y l i k e t h e f u tu r e p r e d i c t e d b y G u n t h e r S te n t . I n f a c t , o n p a g e 1 3 7 o f [_S_25], Stent explicitly cites the development of transhuman intelligence as a sufficient condition to break his projections. B u t i f t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l S i n g u la r i t y c a n h a p p e n , i t w i l l . E v e n if a l l the governments of the world were to understand the “threat” and be in deadly fear of it, progress toward the goal would continue. In
  • 528. 528 f i c t i o n , t h e r e h a v e b e e n s t o r i e s o f la w s p a s s e d f o r b i d d i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f “ a m a c h i n e i n t h e l i ke n e s s o f t h e h u m a n m i n d ” [_S_13]. In fact, the competitive advantage — economic, military, e v e n a r t i s t i c — o f e v e r y a dv a n c e in a u t o m a t i o n i s s o c o m p e l l i n g t h a t pa s s i n g la w s , o r h a v i n g c u s t o m s , t h a t f o r b i d s u c h t h i n g s merely assures that someone else will get them first. E r i c D r e x l e r [ _S _ 8 ] h a s p r o v i d e d s p e c t a c u l a r in s i g h t s a b o u t h o w f a r t e c h n i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t m a y g o . H e a g r e e s t h a t s u pe r h u m a n i n t e l l i g e n c e s w i l l b e a v a i la b l e i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e — a n d t h a t s u c h entities pose a threat to the human status quo. But Drexler argues that we can confine such transhuman devices so that their results can be examined and u se d safely. This is I. J. Good's ultraintelligent machine, with a dose of caution. I argue that c o n f i n e m e n t i s i n t r i n s i c a l l y i m p r a c t i c a l. F o r t h e c a s e o f p h y s i c a l c o n f i n e m e n t : I ma g i n e y o u r s e l f l o c k e d i n y o u r h o m e w i t h o n l y l i m i t e d d a t a a c c e s s t o t h e o u t s i d e , t o y ou r m a s t e r s . I f t h o s e m a s t e r s t h o u g h t a t a ra t e — s a y — o n e m i l l i o n t i m e s s l o w e r t h a n y o u , t h e r e i s l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t o v e r a p e r i o d o f ye a r s ( y o u r t i m e ) y o u c o u l d c o m e u p w i t h “ h e l p f u l a dv i c e ” t h a t w o u l d i n c i d e n t a l l y s e t y o u f re e . ( I c a l l t h i s “ f a s t t h i n k i n g ” f o r m o f s u p e r i n t e l l i g e n c e “ w e a k s u p e r h u m a n i t y ” . S u c h a “ w e a k l y s u pe r h u m a n ” e n t i t y w o u l d probably burn out in a few weeks of outside time. “Strong s u pe r h u m a n i t y ” w o u l d b e m o r e t h a n c ra n k i n g u p t h e c l o c k s p e e d
  • 529. 529 o n a h u m a n - e q u i v a le n t m i n d . I t ' s h a r d t o s a y p r e c i s e l y w h a t “strong superhumanity” would be like, but the difference appears t o b e p r o f o u n d . I ma g i n e r u n n in g a d o g m i n d a t v e r y h i g h s p e e d . W ou l d a t h o u s a n d y e a r s o f d o g g y l iv i n g a d d u p t o a n y h u m a n insight? (Now if the dog mind were cleverly rewired and _then_ run at high speed, we might see something different....) Many s p e c u l a t i o n s a b o u t s u pe r i n t e l l i g e n c e s e e m t o b e b a s e d o n t h e w e a k l y s u pe r h u m a n m o d e l . I b e l i e v e t h a t o u r b e s t g u e s s e s a b o u t the post-Singularity world can be obtained by thinking on the n a t u r e o f s t r o n g s u p e r h u m a n i t y . I w i l l r e t u r n t o t h i s p o i n t la t e r i n t h e p a pe r . ) Another approach to confinement is to build _rules_ into the mind o f t h e c re a t e d s u pe r h u m a n e n t i t y ( f o r e x a m p l e , A s i m o v ' s L a w s [ _ S _ 3 ] ) . I t h i n k t h a t a n y r u le s s t r i c t e n o u g h t o b e e f f e c t i v e w o u l d also produce a device whose ability was clearly inferior to the unfettered versions (and so human competition would favor the development of the those more dangerous models). Still, the Asimov dream is a wonderful one: Imagine a willing slave, who has 1 0 0 0 t i m e s y o u r c a pa b i l i t i e s in e v e r y w a y. I ma g i n e a c r e a t u r e w h o c ou l d s a t i s f y y o u r e v e r y s a f e w i s h ( w h a t e v e r t h a t m e a n s ) a n d s t i l l have 99.9% of its time free for other activities. There would be a new universe we never really understood, but f i l le d with
  • 530. 530 benevolent gods (though one of _my_ wishes might be to become one of them). I f t h e S i n g u l a r i t y c a n n o t b e p r e v e n t e d o r c on f i n e d , j u s t h o w b a d c ou l d t h e P o s t - H u ma n e r a b e ? W e l l . . . p r e t t y b a d . T he p h y s i c a l e x t i n c t i o n o f t h e h u m a n ra c e i s o n e p o s s i b i l i t y . ( O r a s E r i c D r e x l e r pu t i t o f n a n o t e c h n o l o g y : G iv e n a l l t h a t s u c h t e c h n o l o g y c a n d o , pe r h a p s g o v e r n m e n t s w o u l d s i m p l y d e c i d e t h a t t h e y n o l o n g e r n e e d citizens!). Yet physical extinction may not be the scariest possibility. Again, analogies: Think of the different ways we relate to animals. Some o f t h e c ru d e p h y s i c a l a bu s e s a re i m p l a u s i b l e , ye t . . . . I n a P o s t - Hu m a n w o r l d t h e r e w o u l d s t i l l b e p l e n t y o f n i c h e s w h e r e h u m a n e qu i v a l e n t a u t o m a t i o n w o u l d b e d e s i r a b l e : e m b e d d e d s y s t e m s i n autonomous devices, self-aware daemons in the lower functioning o f la r g e r s e n t i e n t s . ( A s t r o n g l y s u p e r h u m a n in t e l l i g e n c e w o u l d l i k e l y b e a S o c i e t y o f M i n d [ _S _ 1 6 ] w i t h s o m e v e r y c o m p e t e n t c o m p o n e n t s . ) S o m e o f t h e s e h u m a n e q u iv a le n t s m i g h t b e u s e d f o r nothing more than digital signal processing. They would be more l i k e w h a l e s t h a n h u ma n s . O t h e r s m i g h t b e v e r y h u m a n - l i ke , y e t w i t h a o n e - s i d e d n e s s , a _ d e d i c a t i o n _ t h a t w o u l d pu t t h e m i n a m e n ta l h o s p i t a l i n o u r e r a . T h o u g h n o n e o f t h e s e c r e a t u r e s m i g h t be flesh-and-blood humans, they might be the closest things in the
  • 531. 531 n e w e n v i r o n m e n t t o w h a t we c a l l h u m a n n o w . ( I . J . G o o d h a d s o m e t h i n g t o s a y a b o u t t h i s , t h o u g h a t t h i s l a t e d a t e t h e a d v ic e m a y b e m o o t : G o o d [ _S _ 1 2 ] p r o p o s e d a “ M e t a - G o l d e n Ru l e ” , w h i c h m i g h t b e pa r a p h r a s e d a s “ T r e a t y o u r in f e r i o r s a s y o u w o u l d b e treated by your superiors.” It's a wonderful, paradoxical idea (and m o s t o f m y f r i e n d s d o n ' t b e l i e v e i t) s i n c e t h e g a m e - t h e o r e t i c pa y o f f i s s o h a r d t o a r t i c u l a t e . Y e t i f w e w e r e a b l e t o f o l l o w i t , in s o m e s e n s e t h a t m i g h t s a y s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e p la u s i b i l i t y o f s u c h kindness in this universe.) I have argued above that we cannot prevent the Singularity, that i t s c o m i n g i s a n i n e v i t a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e h u m a n s ' n a tu r a l c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s a n d t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s i n h e r e n t in t e c h n o l o g y . An d y e t . . . w e a re t h e i n i t i a t o r s . E v e n t h e l a r g e s t a v a la n c h e i s t r i g g e r e d by small things. We have the freedom to establish initial c o n d i t i o n s , m a k e t h i n g s h a p pe n i n w a y s t h a t a re le s s in i m i c a l t h a n o t h e r s . Of c ou r s e ( a s w i t h s t a r t i n g a v a l a n c h e s ) , i t m a y n o t b e c le a r what the right guiding nudge really is: Other Paths to the Singularity: Intelligence Amplification_ W h e n pe o p l e s p e a k o f c r e a t i n g s u pe r h u m a n l y in t e l l i g e n t b e i n g s , t h e y a r e u s u a l l y i m a g i n i n g a n AI p r o j e c t . B u t a s I n o t e d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h i s pa p e r , t h e r e a r e o t h e r pa t h s t o s u p e r h u m a n i t y . C o m p u t e r n e t w o r k s a n d h u m a n - c o m p u t e r in t e r f a c e s s e e m m o r e
  • 532. 532 m u n d a n e t h a n A I , a n d y e t t h e y c ou l d le a d t o t h e S in g u l a r i t y . I c a l l t h i s c o n t r a s t i n g a p p r o a c h I n t e l l i g e n c e A m p l i f ic a t i o n ( I A) . I A i s something that is proceeding very naturally, in most cases not even recognized by its developers for what it is. But every time our ability to access information and to communicate it to others is i m p r o v e d , i n s o m e s e n s e w e h a v e a c h i e v e d a n in c r e a s e o v e r n a tu r a l intelligence. Even now, the team of a PhD human and good computer workstation (even an off-net workstation!) c ou l d p r o b a b l y m a x a n y w r i t t e n in t e l l i g e n c e t e s t i n e x i s t e n c e . A n d i t ' s v e r y l i k e l y t h a t I A i s a m u c h e a s ie r r o a d t o t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f s u p e r h u m a n i t y t h a n p u r e AI . I n h u m a n s , t h e hardest development problems have already been solved. Building up from within ourselves ought to be easier than figuring out first what we really are and then building machines that are all of that. And there is at least conjectural precedent for this approach. C a i r n s - S m i t h [ _S _ 6 ] h a s s p e c u l a t e d t h a t b i o l o g i c a l l i f e ma y h a v e b e g u n a s a n a d j u n c t t o s t i l l m o r e p r i m i t i v e l if e b a s e d o n c ry s t a l l i n e g r o w t h . L y n n M a r g u l i s ( i n [ _S _ 1 5 ] a n d e l s e w h e r e ) h a s m a d e s t r o n g arguments that mutualism is a great driving force in evolution. N o t e t h a t I a m n o t p r o p o s i n g t h a t AI r e s e a r c h b e i g n o r e d o r l e s s funded. What goes on with AI will often have applications in IA, and vice versa. I am suggesting that we recognize that in network
  • 533. 533 a n d i n t e rf a c e r e s e a r c h t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g a s p r o f o u n d ( a n d potential wild) as Artificial Intelligence. With that insight, we may s e e p r o j e c t s t h a t a r e n o t a s d i r e c t l y a p p l ic a b l e a s c on v e n t i o n a l i n t e rf a c e a n d n e t w o r k d e s i g n w o r k , bu t w h i c h s e r v e t o a d v a n c e u s t o w a r d t h e S i n gu l a r i t y a l o n g t h e I A pa t h . H e r e a r e s o m e p o s s i b l e p r o j e c t s t h a t t a ke o n s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , given the IA point of view: * Human/computer team automation: Take problems that are normally c on s i d e r e d for purely machine solution ( l i ke hill- climbing problems), and design programs and interfaces that take a a d v a n t a g e o f h u m a n s ' i n t u i t i o n a n d a v a i la b l e c o m p u t e r h a r d w a r e . Considering all the bizarreness of higher dimensional hill-climbing problems (and the neat algorithms that have been devised for their solution), there could be some very interesting displays and control tools provided to the human team member. * Develop human/computer symbiosis in art: Combine the graphic generation capability of modern machines and the esthetic s e n s i b i l i t y o f h u m a n s . O f c ou r s e , t h e r e h a s b e e n a n e n o r m o u s amount of research in designing computer aids for artists, as labor saving tools. I'm suggesting that we explicitly aim for a greater merging of competence, that we explicitly recognize the
  • 534. 534 c o o p e r a t i v e a p p r o a c h t h a t i s p o s s i b l e . K a r l S i m s [ _S _ 2 3 ] h a s d o n e wonderful work in this direction. * Allow human/computer teams at chess tournaments. We already h a v e p r o g r a m s t h a t c a n p la y b e t t e r t h a n a l m o s t a l l h u m a n s . B u t h o w m u c h w o r k h a s b e e n d o n e o n h o w t h i s p o w e r c ou l d b e u s e d b y a human, to get something even better? If such teams were allowed i n a t l e a s t s o m e c he s s t o u r n a m e n t s , i t c o u l d h a v e t h e p o s i t i v e effect on IA research that allowing computers in tournaments had for the corresponding niche in AI. * D e v e l o p i n t e r f a c e s t h a t a l l o w c o m pu t e r a n d n e t w o r k a c c e s s without requiring the human to be tied to one spot, sitting in front o f a c o m p u t e r . ( T h i s i s a n a s p e c t o f I A t h a t f i t s s o we l l w i t h k n o w n e c o n o m i c a dv a n t a g e s t h a t l o t s o f e f f o r t i s a l r e a d y b e i n g s p e n t o n it.) * D e v e l o p m o r e s y m m e t r i c a l d e c i s i o n s u p p o r t s y s t e m s . A p o p u la r r e s e a rc h / p r o d u c t a r e a i n r e c e n t ye a r s h a s b e e n d e c i s i o n s u p p o r t s y s t e m s . T h i s i s a f o r m o f I A, b u t m a y b e t o o f o c u s e d o n s y s t e m s t h a t a re o r a c u l a r . A s m u c h a s t h e p r o g r a m g i v in g t h e u se r i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e r e m u s t b e t h e i d e a o f t h e u s e r g i v in g t h e p r o g r a m guidance.
  • 535. 535 * U s e l o c a l a r e a n e t s t o ma k e h u m a n t e a m s t h a t r e a l l y w o r k ( ie , a re more effective than their component members). This is generally the area of “groupware”, already a very popular commercial pu r s u i t . T h e c h a n g e i n v i e w p o i n t h e r e w o u l d b e t o r e g a r d t h e g r o u p activity as a combination organism. In one sense, this suggestion might be regarded as the goal of inventing a “Rules of Order” for such combination operations. For instance, group focus might be m o r e e a s i l y m a i n ta i n e d t h a n i n c la s s i c a l m e e t i n g s . E x p e r t i s e o f individual human members could be isolated from ego issues such t h a t t h e c on t r i b u t i o n o f d i f f e r e n t m e m b e r s i s f oc u s e d o n t h e t e a m p r o j e c t . A n d o f c ou r s e s h a r e d d a t a b a s e s c o u l d b e u s e d m u c h m o r e conveniently than in conventional committee operations. (Note that this suggestion is aimed at team operations rather than political meetings. In a political setting, the automation described a b o v e w o u l d s i m p l y e n f o r c e t h e p o w e r o f t h e pe r s o n s m a k i n g t h e r u le s ! ) * E x p l o i t t h e w o r l d w i d e I n t e r n e t a s a c o m b i n a t i o n h u m a n / ma c h i n e t o o l . O f a l l t h e i t e m s o n t h e l i s t , p r o g r e s s in t h i s i s p r o c e e d i n g t h e f a s t e s t a n d m a y ru n u s i n t o t h e S i n gu l a r i t y b e f o r e a n y t h i n g e l s e . T h e p o w e r a n d i n f lu e n c e o f e v e n t h e p r e s e n t - d a y I n te r n e t i s v a s t l y underestimated. For instance, I think our contemporary computer s y s t e m s w o u l d b r e a k u n de r t h e w e i g h t o f t h e i r o w n c o m p l e x i t y i f i t w e r e n ' t f o r t h e e d g e t h a t t h e US E N E T “ g r o u p m i n d ” g i v e s t h e
  • 536. 536 system administration and support people! The very anarchy of the worldwide net development is evidence of its potential. As c o n n e c t i v i t y a n d b a n d w i d t h a n d a rc h i v e s i z e a n d c o m p u t e r s p e e d a l l i n c r e a s e , w e a r e s e e i n g s o m e t h i n g l i k e L y n n M a r g u l i s ' [ _ S _ 1 5] v i s i o n o f t h e b i o s p h e r e a s d a t a p r o c e s s o r r e c a p i t u la t e d , b u t a t a million times greater speed and with millions of humanly intelligent agents (ourselves). The above examples illustrate research that can be done within the c o n t e x t o f c o n t e m p o r a r y c o m p u t e r s c ie n c e d e p a r t m e n t s . T he r e a r e o t h e r p a r a d i g m s . F o r e x a m p l e , m u c h o f t h e w o r k i n A r t i f i c ia l Intelligence and n e u ra l nets would benefit from a closer connection with biological life. Instead of simply trying to model a n d u n d e r s t a n d b i o l o g i c a l l if e w i t h c o m p u t e r s , r e s e a r c h c ou l d b e directed toward the creation of composite systems that rely on b i o l o g i c a l l i f e f o r g u i d a n c e o r f o r t h e p r o v i d i n g f e a tu r e s w e d o n ' t understand well enough yet to implement in hardware. A long-time dream of science-fiction has been direct brain to c o m p u t e r i n t e r f a c e s [ _ S _ 2] [ _ S _ 2 9] . I n f a c t , t h e r e i s c on c r e t e work that can be done (and is being done) in this area:
  • 537. 537 * Limb prosthetics is a topic of direct commercial applicability. N e r v e t o s i l i c o n t r a n s d u c e r s c a n b e m a d e [ _S _ 1 4 ] . T h i s i s a n exciting, near-term step toward direct communication. * Direct links into brains seem feasible, if the bit rate is low: given h u m a n le a r n i n g f l e x i b i l i t y , t h e a c t u a l b r a i n n e u r o n t a r g e t s m i g h t not have to be precisely selected. Even 100 bits per second would b e o f g r e a t u s e t o s t r o k e v i c t i m s w h o w o u l d o t h e r w i s e b e c o n f in e d to menu-driven interfaces. * Plugging in to the optic trunk has the potential for bandwidths of 1 M b i t / s e c o n d o r s o . B u t f o r t h i s , w e n e e d t o kn o w t h e f in e - s c a l e a rc h i t e c t u r e o f v i s i o n , a n d w e n e e d t o p l a c e a n e n o r m o u s w e b o f e le c t r o d e s w i t h e x qu i s i t e p r e c i s i o n . I f w e w a n t o u r h i g h b a n d w i d t h connection to be _in addition_ to what paths are already present in the brain, the problem becomes vastly more intractable. Just sticking a grid of high-bandwidth receivers into a brain certainly won't do it. But suppose that the high-bandwidth grid were present while the brain structure was actually setting up, as the embryo d e v e l o p s . T ha t s u g g e s t s : * A n i m a l e m b r y o e x pe r i m e n t s . I w o u l d n ' t e x pe c t a n y I A s u c c e s s i n t h e f i r s t y e a r s o f s u c h r e s e a rc h , b u t g i v i n g d e v e l o p i n g b r a i n s access to complex simulated neural structures might be very
  • 538. 538 i n t e r e s t i n g t o t h e pe o p l e w h o s t u d y h o w t h e e m b r y o n i c b r a i n d e v e l o p s . I n t h e l o n g r u n , s u c h e x pe r i m e n t s m i g h t p r o d u c e a n i m a l s w i t h a d d i t i o n a l s e n s e pa t h s a n d i n t e r e s t i n g i n t e l l e c tu a l a b i l i t i e s . Originally, I had hoped that this discussion of IA would yield some c l e a r l y s a f e r a p p r o a c h e s t o t h e S i n g u la r i t y . ( A f t e r a l l , I A a l l o w s our participation in a kind of transcendence.) Alas, looking back over these IA proposals, about all I am sure of is that they should b e c on s i d e r e d , t h a t t h e y m a y g i v e u s m o r e o p t i o n s . B u t a s f o r safety ... well, some of the suggestions are a little scary on their face. One of my informal reviewers pointed out that IA for i n d i v i d u a l h u m a n s c re a t e s a r a t h e r s i n i s t e r e l i t e . W e h u m a n s h a v e m i l l i o n s o f y e a r s o f e v o lu t i o n a r y b a g g a g e t h a t m a k e s u s r e ga r d competition in a deadly light. Much of that deadliness may not be necessary in today's world, one where losers take on the winners' t r i c k s a n d a re c o o p t e d i n t o t h e w i n n e r s ' e n t e r p r i s e s . A c r e a t u r e that was built _de novo_ might possibly be a much more benign e n t i t y t h a n o n e w i t h a k e r n e l b a s e d o n f a n g a n d t a l o n . An d e v e n t h e e ga l i t a r i a n v i e w o f a n I n t e r n e t t h a t w a k e s u p a l o n g w i t h a l l mankind can be viewed as a nightmare [_S_26]. The problem is not simply that the Singularity represents the pa s s i n g o f h u m a n k i n d f r o m c e n t e r s t a g e , b u t t h a t i t c on t r a d i c t s o u r
  • 539. 539 most deeply held notions of being. I think a closer look at the n o t i o n o f s t r o n g s u pe r h u m a n i t y c a n s h o w w h y t h a t i s . Strong Superhumanity and the Best We Can Ask for S u p p o s e w e c o u l d t a i l o r t h e S in g u l a r i t y . S u p p o s e we c ou l d a t t a i n our most extravagant hopes. What then would we ask for: That humans themselves would become their own successors, that whatever injustice occurs would be tempered by our knowledge of our roots. For those who remained unaltered, the goal would be benign treatment (perhaps even g i v in g the stay-behinds the appearance of being masters of godlike slaves). It could be a golden age that also in v o l v e d progress ( ov e r l e a p i n g Stent's b a r r i e r ) . I m m o r t a l i t y ( o r a t l e a s t a l if e t i m e a s l o n g a s w e c a n m a k e t h e u n i v e r s e s u r v i v e [ _ S _ 1 0] [ _ S _ 4 ] ) w o u l d b e a c h ie v a b l e . But in this brightest and kindest world, the philosophical problems themselves become intimidating. A mind that stays at the same c a p a c i t y c a n n o t l i v e f o r e v e r ; a f te r a f e w t h o u s a n d ye a r s i t w o u l d l o o k m o r e l i k e a r e p e a t i n g t a p e l o o p t h a n a p e r s o n . ( T he m o s t c h i l l i n g p i c t u r e I h a v e s e e n o f t h i s i s i n [ _S _ 1 8 ] . ) T o l i v e indefinitely long, the mind itself must grow ... and when it becomes great enough, and looks back ... what fellow-feeling can it h a v e w i t h t h e s o u l t h a t i t w a s o r i g i n a l l y ? C e r t a i n l y t h e la t e r b e i n g would be everything the original was, but so much vastly more.
  • 540. 540 And so even for the individual, the Cairns-Smith or Lynn Margulis notion of new life growing incrementally out of the old must still be valid. This “problem” about immortality comes up in much more direct ways. The notion of ego and self-awareness has been the bedrock of the hardheaded rationalism of the last few centuries. Yet now t h e n o t i o n o f s e l f - a w a r e n e s s i s u n d e r a t t a c k f r o m t h e A r t i f ic i a l Intelligence people ( “ s e lf - a wa r e n e s s and other delusions”). Intelligence Amplification undercuts our concept of ego from another direction. The p o s t - S i n g u la r i t y world will involve uncommonly high-bandwidth networking. A c e n t r a l f e a tu r e o f s t r o n g l y s u pe r h u m a n e n t i t i e s w i l l l i ke l y b e t h e i r a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n ic a t e a t v a r ia b l e b a n d w i d t h s , in c l u d i n g ones far higher than speech or written messages. What happens when pieces of ego can be copied and merged, when the size of a selfawareness can grow or shrink to fit the nature of the problems under consideration? These are essential features of strong s u pe r h u m a n i t y a n d t h e S i n g u l a r i t y . T h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e m , o n e b e g i n s t o f e e l h o w e s s e n t i a l l y s t r a n g e a n d d if f e r e n t t h e P o s t - Hu m a n e r a w i l l b e — _ n o m a t t e r h o w c l e v e r l y a n d b e n i g n l y i t i s brought to be_.
  • 541. 541 F r o m o n e a n g l e , t h e v i s i o n f i t s ma n y o f o u r h a p p i e s t d r e a m s : a time unending, where we can truly know one another and u n d e r s t a n d t h e d e e pe s t m y s t e r i e s . F r o m a n o t h e r a n g le , i t ' s a l o t l i k e t h e w o r s t - c a s e s c e n a r i o I i m a g i n e d e a r l i e r i n t h i s pa p e r . Which is the valid viewpoint? In fact, I think the new era is simply t o o d i f f e r e n t t o f i t i n t o t h e c l a s s i c a l f ra m e o f g o o d a n d e v i l . T h a t f ra m e i s b a s e d o n t h e i d e a o f i s o l a t e d , i m m u t a b l e m i n d s c o n n e c t e d b y t e n u o u s , l o w - b a n d w i t h l i n k s . B u t t h e p o s t - S in g u l a r i t y w o r l d _does_ fit with the larger tradition of change and cooperation that started long ago (perhaps even before the rise of biological life). I think there _are_ notions of ethics that would apply in such an e ra . R e s e a r c h i n t o I A a n d h i g h - b a n d w i d t h c o m m u n ic a t i o n s s h o u l d improve this understanding. I see just the glimmerings of this now [ _ S _ 3 2 ] . T h e r e i s G o o d ' s M e t a - G o l d e n R u le ; pe r h a p s t h e r e a r e r u le s f o r d i s t i n g u i s h i n g s e l f f r o m o t h e r s o n t h e b a s i s o f b a n d w i d t h o f c on n e c t i o n . A n d w h i l e m i n d a n d s e l f w i l l b e v a s t l y m o r e l a b i l e than in the past, much of what we value (knowledge, memory, thought) need never be lost. I think Freeman Dyson has it right when he says [_S_9]: “God is what mind becomes when it has pa s s e d b e y o n d t h e s c a le o f o u r c o m p r e h e n s i o n . ” [ I w i s h t o t h a n k J o h n C a r r o l l o f S a n D i e g o S ta t e U n i v e r s i t y a n d H o w a r d D a v i d s o n o f S u n M ic r o s y s t e m s f o r d i s c u s s i n g t h e d r a f t v e r s i o n o f t h i s pa p e r w i t h m e . ] ”
  • 542. 542 Entire annotated bibliography: http://bit.ly/9h9prC En d o f l i t e r a l c i t a t i o n o f T h e S i n g ul a r i t y F or u m a n d Stemming Article. CHAPTER 8 “ T H E FU T U R I S T ” M A G A Z I N E' S T O P - 1 0 F O R E C A S T S FO R 2 01 0 A N D B E Y O N D P LU S M O R E T H AN 2 5 0 F O R E C A S T S FR O M O U T L O O K , O U R A N N U A L S P E C I A L R E P O R T . Beginning of Literal citation of The Futurist Magazine’s T o p - 1 0 F o r e c a s t f o r 2 01 0 E a c h y e a r s i n c e 1 9 8 5 , t h e e d i t o r s o f T H E F UT U R I S T h a v e s e l e c t e d t h e m o s t t h o u g h t - p r o v o k i n g i d e a s a n d f o r e c a s t s a p pe a r i n g in t h e m a g a z i n e t o g o i n t o o u r a n n u a l Ou t l o o k r e p o r t . O v e r t h e ye a r s , Ou t l o o k has spotlighted the e me r g e n c e of such epochal d e v e l o p m e n t s a s t h e I n te r n e t , v i r t u a l r e a l i t y , a n d t h e e n d o f t h e Cold War. Here are the top ten forecasts for 2010 and beyond. 1. Your phone will tell you when you’re in love. Mobile devices are e n a b l i n g n e w s p o n t a n e o u s c o n n e c t i o n s in r e a l - w o r l d s e t t i n g s , including love connections. One day soon, your phone will play
  • 543. 543 matchmaker, recommending that you introduce yourself to someone nearby whose online profile displays tastes or passions similar to yours. Impossible? An iPhone application called S e r e n d i p i t y i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g c o m m e r c i a l i ze d b y M I T r e s e a r c h e r s . —Erica Orange, “Mining Information from the Data Clouds,” July- Aug 2009, p. 17 2 . I n t h e d e s i g n e c o n o m y o f t h e f u tu r e , pe o p l e w i l l d o w n l o a d a n d p r i n t t h e i r o w n p r o d u c t s , i n c lu d i n g a u t o p a r t s , j e w e l r y , a n d e v e n t h e k i t c h e n s i n k . R a p i d p r o t o t y p i n g , o r 3 - D p r i n t i n g , a n d d e v ic e s l i k e t h e Re p R a p s e lf - r e p r o d u c i n g p r i n t e r a r e a l l o w i n g pe o p l e t o design, customize, and print objects from their home computers. I n t h e f u t u r e , c h e a pe r v e r s i o n s o f t h e s e d e v ic e s c o u l d d i s r u p t m a n u f a c tu r i n g b u s i n e s s m o d e l s , r e s u l t i n g i n f a r c h e a p e r p r o d u c t s i n d i v i d u a l l y t a i l o r e d t o e v e r y c u s t o m e r ’ s d e s i r e . —T h o m a s A . Easton, “The Design Economy,” Jan-Feb 2009, p. 43 3 . T h e e r a o f b r a i n - t o - b r a i n t e l e pa t h y d a w n s . N e u r o s c i e n t i s t D a v i d P o e p p e l s a y s t h a t t e le p a t h i c c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n b r a i n s i s possible, so long as “communication” is understood to be e le c t r o m a g n e t i c signals and not words. Technologies l i ke magnetoencephalography, which pick up the various signals the b r a i n s e n d s o u t , c o u l d b e u se d t o p i c k u p s p e c i f i c s i g n a l s a n d convey them. If you could train your brain to signal in Morse code,
  • 544. 544 s e n s o r s i n a h e l m e t c o u l d p ic k u p t h e m e s s a g e a n d s e n d i t t o another helmet. —Patrick Tucker, “Reinventing Morality,” Jan-Feb 2 0 0 9 , p. 2 3 4. Tomorrow’s inventors will spend their days writing descriptions o f t h e p r o b l e m s t h e y wa n t t o s o l v e , a n d t h e n l e t t i n g c o m p u t e r s f i n d the solutions. Invention programs like G re g o r y Hornby’s “evolutionary algorithm” have been used to invent real-world objects, such as a special space antenna, based entirely on e n g i n e e r i n g s p e c i f i c a t i o n s . C o n t i n u e d a dv a n c e s w i l l i n c r e a s i n g l y rely on cross-fertilization between the fields of biology and computer science. As a result, we will develop not only software t h a t c a n p r o d u c e b e t t e r i n v e n t i o n s b u t a l s o in v e n t i o n s t h a t a re a b l e t o a da p t t o t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t s . — R o b e r t P l o t k i n , “ T h e Automation of Invention,” July-Aug 2009, p. 24 5 . M i c r o n a t i o n s b u i l t o n a r t i f ic i a l i s l a n d s w i l l d r a m a t i c a l l y s h i f t the face of global politics. New forms of government and unusual p o l i t i c a l m o d e l s w i l l b e g i n t o e me r g e , i n c l u d i n g c o r p o r a t e n a t i o n - s t a t e s , r e l i g i o u s s t a t e s , t a x - f re e z o n e s , s i n g l e - f u n c t i o n c ou n t r i e s , cause-related countries, and even rental nation-states, where o r g a n i z a t i o n s c a n “ r e n t a c o u n t r y ” f o r a ye a r o r t w o t o t e s t a specific project. —Thomas Frey, “Own Your Own Island Nation,” May-June 2009, p. 30
  • 545. 545 6 . Y o u n g pe o p l e w i l l r e a d m o r e , a n d t h e o l d w i l l p l a y m o r e v i d e o games. According to the 2007 American Time Use Survey from the B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s r e v e a le d s o m e s u r p r i s i n g f i n d i n g s . I n 2 0 0 7 , a d u l t s a ge d 7 5 a n d o l d e r s p e n t n e a r l y t w i c e a s m u c h t i m e p la y i n g v i d e o g a m e s ( a b o u t 2 0 m i n u t e s ) a s t h e y d i d in 2 0 0 6 . T e e n s a ge d 1 5 — 1 9 s p e n t t w i c e a s m u c h t i m e r e a d i n g a s t h e y d i d b e f o r e (about 14 minutes) and less time using a computer for games or c a s u a l s u r f i n g . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 8 , p. 1 4 7. Ammonia may become the fuel of choice for cars by 2020. As a candidate source for hydrogen used in fuel cells, ammonia ( c o m p r i s i n g o n e n i t r o g e n a n d t h r e e h y d r o g e n a t o m s ) i s p l e n t if u l , easier to liquefy than methane, and emits nitrogen rather than carbon, thus having fewer negative impacts on the climate. —J. S t o r r s H a l l , “ A m m o n i a , t h e F u e l o f t h e Fu t u r e , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 9 , p . 10 8 . A l g a e m a y b e c o m e t h e n e w o i l . Ac c o r d i n g t o r e s e a r c h e r s a t a Department of Energy plant in New M e x ic o , s i n g l e - c e l le d microalgae, grown in pond water, produce a biofuel that is lead- f re e a n d b i o d e g r a d a b l e , e m i t s t w o - t h i r d s l e s s c a r b o n d i o x i d e a n d other pollutants than gasoline, and can run any modern diesel engine. Even better, algae require only a fraction of the land area
  • 546. 546 of biofuel-producing crops. —Robert McIntyre, “Algae’s Powerful Future,” Mar-Apr 2009, p. 25 9 . R a d i c a l m e t h o d s o f a l t e r i n g t h e p la n e t m a y b e t h e o n l y w a y t o prevent the worst effects of climate change. Geoengineering may b e i n e v i t a b l e b e c a u s e , e v e n i f h u m a n s c o u l d in s t a n t l y e n d a l l g r e e n h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s , g l o b a l t e m p e r a t u r e s w o u l d c on t i n u e t o i n c r e a s e f o r t h e n e x t 2 0 — 3 0 ye a r s , t r i g g e r i n g f e e d b a c k l o o p s a n d more warming. Potential megascale geoengineering projects i n c l u d e s e n d i n g s p a c e m i r r o r s i n t o o r b i t , s e q u e s t e r i n g c a r b o n in t h e g r o u n d i n b i o m a s s c ha r c o a l , a n d i n c r e a s i n g t h e a m o u n t o f carbon that the ocean can absorb by forcing plankton blooms in the seas. —Jamais Cascio, author of Hacking the Earth, reviewed by Bob Olson, July-Aug 2009, p. 51 10. The existence of extraterrestrial life will be confirmed or conclusively denied within a generation. New space missions and a dv a n c e d c o m p u t e r t e c h n o l o g y c o u l d c o n f i r m t h e e x i s t e n c e o f extraterrestrials soon. S c ie n t i s t s using NASA’s Spitzer S pa c e T e l e s c o p e h a v e f ou n d t h a t a t l e a s t 2 0 % — a n d pe r h a p s a s m a n y a s 6 0 % — o f S u n - l i k e s t a r s c o u l d h a v e r o c k y p la n e t s . N e x t g e n e r a t i o n , AI-driven space probes may allow us to plot the location of every p la n e t a r y b o d y i n t h e k n o w n u n i v e r s e . A m o n g t h e m o r e t h a n 3 0 0 extra-solar worlds already discovered, probably one has some form
  • 547. 547 of life, according to Dimitar Sasselov, an astronomer and director of Harvard University’s Origins of Life Initiative. —G r e g o r y G e o r g i o u , “ T h e Re a l L i f e S e a r c h f o r E . T . He a t s U p, ” N o v - D e c 2 0 0 8 , p. 20 A l l o f t h e s e f o r e c a s t s p l u s d o z e n s m o r e a re in c lu d e d i n t h e a n n u a l report that scans the best writing and research from THE F U T U R I S T m a g a z i n e o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f t h e p r e v i o u s ye a r . T he S oc i e t y h o p e s t h i s r e p o r t , c ov e r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s i n b u s i n e s s a n d economics, demography, energy, the environment, health and m e d i c i n e , r e s o u r c e s , s o c i e t y a n d v a lu e s , a n d t e c h n o l o g y , w i l l a s s i s t i t s r e a d e r s i n p r e pa r i n g f o r t h e c h a l l e n g e s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n 2010 and beyond. OUTLOOK 2009 BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS * China will most likely become the world's largest economy within the next three decades. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes China's economy will surpass that of the United S ta t e s b y 2 0 3 5 . T h e r e a r e d e b a t e s a b o u t w h e t h e r I n d i a ' s e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l u l t i m a t e l y s u r p a s s C h i n a ' s , b u t i t i s c le a r t h a t Asia's economies are growing. Ov e r a l l , workers in Asia are b e c o m i n g m o r e s k i l l e d a n d e du c a t e d . - An d y H i n e s , " C o n s u m e r
  • 548. 548 T re n d s i n T h r e e D i f f e r e n t ' W o r l d s , ' " J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 2 ; Futurist Update, Aug 2008 * T ou r i s m ' s f u t u r e i s b r i g h t . T o u r i s m i s e x p e c t e d t o n e a r l y d o u b l e w o r l d w i d e , f r o m 8 4 2 m i l l i o n in t e r n a t i o n a l t o u r i s t a r r i v a l s i n 2 0 0 6 to 1.6 billion in 2020. China will be the greatest source of tourists as well as the most popular tourist destination. -Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies, "Trends Shaping Tomorrow's World, Part One," Mar-Apr 2008, p. 43 * B o o k pu b l i s h e r s m a y n e e d t o h i r e m o v i e d i r e c t o r s . B o o k s a r e f i n a l l y g o i n g m u l t i m e d i a a n d d i g i t a l , a n d p u b l i s h e r s a re o f f e r i n g more content online for free. Textbooks will bring together a wide v a r i e t y o f t a le n t s t o c r e a t e a m u l t i m e d i a " b o o k . " T he s h i f t f r o m p r i n t t o mu l t i m e d i a m e a n s t h a t t h e w r i t e r s o f t h e f u t u r e w i l l w o r k with Web designers, software writers, and other professionals to c re a t e p r o d u c t s . T h e n e x t s t e p f o r p u b l i s h e r s w i l l b e i n v o l v i n g t h e r e a d e r s i n t h e pu b l i s h i n g p r o c e s s , u s i n g t h e m t o s e t p r i c e s a n d g i v e i n pu t o n w h a t t o p u b l i s h . - P a t r i c k T u c ke r , " T h e 2 1 s t - Ce n t u r y Writer," July-Aug 2008, p. 25 * R e t i r e e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l i n c r e a s i n g l y r e tu r n t o t h e workforce. One-third of Americans who retire are back on the job t w o y e a r s l a t e r , a n d g r o w i n g n u m b e r s o f r e t i r e e s a re c h o o s i n g t o
  • 549. 549 s t a r t t h e i r o w n b u s i n e s s e s . A b o u t o n e i n f iv e p e o p l e , a n d 4 0 % o f seniors, say they plan to continue working until they die, and nearly two-thirds of Americans say they doubt that retirement is p o s s i b l e f o r t h e m i d d l e c la s s . - M a r v i n J . Ce t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , "Trends Shaping Tomorrow's World, Part Two," May-June 2008, p. 43 * Wealth trends favor the already-favored. The wealthiest 2% of U.S. families saw their net worth double between 1984 and 2005, from $1.07 million to more than $2.1 million per household. The poorest 5% of U.S. households saw their negative net worth (i.e. more liabilities than assets) grow from $1,000 in 1984 to nearly $ 9 , 0 0 0 i n 2 0 0 5 . S i n c e m u c h o f t h e a d v a n t a g e f o r t h e we a l t h y comes from home equity, the current housing price bubble may s l o w d o w n t h e s e t r e n d s in t h e s h o r t t e r m . - W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - D e c 2 0 0 7 , p. 1 2 * C o n s u m e r s w i l l ga i n C E O - l i k e p o w e r s i n t h e b u s i n e s s w o r l d . T h e I n t e r n e t i s e n a b l i n g c on s u m e r s t o r e a d i l y s h a r e in f o r m a t i o n a n d c o n s u l t e a c h o t h e r f o r p r o d u c t i n f o r m a t i o n i n s t e a d o f r e l y in g o n professional critics. Companies will adapt by offering more c u s t o m e r - t o - c u s t o m e r f o ru m s , a s k i n g c u s t o m e r s t o m a r k e t t o o t h e r consumers, and substituting average people for celebrities in
  • 550. 550 product ads. -Arnold Brown, "The Consumer Is the Medium," Jan- F e b 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 9 * S oc i o e c o n o m i c d i s p a r i t i e s w i l l b e c o m e m o r e p r o n o u n c e d i n a g i n g societies. Frictions in many societies will rise as greater numbers o f pe o p l e a p p r o a c h o l d a ge . P o l i c y m a k e r s w i l l n e e d t o b e m o r e m i n d f u l o f h o w i n a d e q u a t e r e s o u r c e s e a r l y i n l if e w i l l l e a v e m a n y retirees in need. -Richard A. Settersten Jr. "Navigating the New Adulthood," Mar-Apr 2008, p. 23 * S oc i a l safety nets will get c u t. Governments across the i n du s t r i a l i z e d w o r l d w i l l p a r e d o w n o r s c r a p a l t o g e t h e r t h e i r pe n s i o n a n d h e a l t h - c a re p r o g r a m s f o r r e t i r e e s . Y o u n g e r w o r k e r s will increasingly protest the higher taxes that those programs require due to greater numbers of retirees than ever before. S u c c e e d i n g g e n e ra t i o n s w i l l h a v e t o w o r k t o g e t h e r t o a v e r t " a ge wars." -Maddy Dychtwald, "Retiring Retirement," Mar-Apr 2008, p. 24 COMPUTERS * Watch out! HAL from 2001 is on the way. Selfaware machine intelligence could be achieved by midcentury. Machine computation to ma t c h humans' natural self-awareness (and
  • 551. 551 r e a l i z i n g A r t h u r C . C l a r k e ' s s c ie n c e - f i c t i o n n e m e s i s H A L 9 0 0 0) would require calculations far more rapid than now possible, as well as the development of self-sustained thinking algorithms. So a real-life HAL is yet decades away, but may be achieved by 2061. - J o s e p h N . P e l t o n , " H A L , M e e t S A M " ( S p e c ia l S e c t i o n , " S c i e n c e F i c t i o n v s. R e a l i t y " ) , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p . 3 6 * Search engines will become humanlike by 2050. With the "semantic" Web, AI-based search engines will comprehend users' questions and queries just like a human assistant. Users will enter questions and get relevant machine-generated answers; users who g i v e i t s e a r c h t e r m s w i l l g e t o n l y a r t i c l e s r e l e v a n t t o t h e i r s p e c if i c r e q u e s t s . - P a t r i c k T u c k e r , " T h e AI C h a s e r s , " M a r - A p r 2 0 0 8 , p . 1 8 * Ra i n b o w t r a p s m a y i m p r o v e c o m p u t i n g a b i l i t i e s . A t e c h n i q u e t o s l o w d o w n o r e v e n c a p tu r e l i g h t , c a l l e d r a in b o w t r a p p i n g , m a y enable computers to store memory u s in g light ra t h e r than e le c t r o n s . The result c ou l d increase operating capacity of c o m p u t e r s b y 1 , 0 0 0 % , a c c o r d i n g t o r e s e a r c h e r s a t t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f S u r r e y a n d S a lf o r d U n i v e r s i t y i n t h e Un i t e d K i n g d o m . - T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 * F u t u r e d a t a j o c k e y s w i l l b e m e a s u r i n g d i g i t a l c a pa c i t y in y o t t a b y t e s . T ha n k s t o g r o w i n g d i g i t a l s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y , d a t a w i l l b e
  • 552. 552 measured in yottabytes (1 septillion bytes of data) by 2050. The p r o s p e c t t h a t n o d i g i t a l i n f o r m a t i o n e v e r n e e d b e t h r o w n a wa y w i l l raise numerous possibilities, such as the ability to record and store every second of one's life on a computer (and no doubt post it on F a c e b o o k ) . - K e l l y " K J " Ku c h t a , q u o t e d i n " T h i n k i n g G l o b a l l y , A c t i n g L o c a l l y , L i v i n g P e r s o n a l l y , " N o v - De c 2 0 0 7 , p . 5 7 * " M a p p i n g t h e m o b " c o u l d m a k e s t r e e t s s a f e r i n e me r g e n c i e s . P a u l M . T o r r e n s o f A r i z o n a S t a t e U n iv e r s i t y i s d e v e l o p i n g a n i m m e r s i v e 3-D computational model to simulate pedestrian behavior in the e v e n t o f a s u d d e n r i o t o r o t h e r e me r g e n c y . Ac c o r d i n g t o T o r r e n s , the mob-mapping program allows him to identify deviations from normal pedestrian behavior, the better to understand what causes pa n i c i n certain situations. - C yn t h i a G. Wagner, "Predicting P a n i c , " N o v - D e c 2 0 0 7 , p. 6 8 * "Serious gaming" will help train tomorrow's health workers. H e a l t h - r e l a t e d c o m p u t e r g a m e s r e p r e s e n t 2 0 % o f t h e " se r i o u s game" market-video ga m e s used for training and other no- n o n s e n s e pu r p o s e s . T h e g a m e s c ou l d h e l p t r a i n a n d e v a lu a t e n e w recruits faster, even in the field, and enable students to bypass c l a s s r o o m s . A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s u s in g v i d e o g a m e s t o t r a i n pa t i e n t s t o c a re f o r t h e m s e l v e s . - P a t r i c k T u c ke r , " V i r t u a l He a l t h , " Sep-Oct 2008, p. 61
  • 553. 553 DEMOGRAPHY * U r b a n i za t i o n w i l l h i t 6 0 % b y 2 0 3 0 . A s m o r e o f t h e w o r l d ' s p o p u la t i o n l i v e s i n c i t i e s , r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e m will make existing environmental and socioeconomic problems worse. Epidemics will be more common due to crowded dwelling u n i t s a n d p o o r s a n i ta t i o n . G l o b a l w a r m i n g m a y a c c e l e ra t e d u e t o h i g h e r c a r b o n d i o x i d e o u t p u t a n d l o s s o f c a r b o n - a b s o r b i n g p la n t s . - M a rv i n J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , " T r e n d s S h a p i n g T o m o r r o w ' s World, Part One," Mar-Apr 2008, p. 52 * Workforces on the move will exacerbate social c o n f l ic t s . Increased migrations of workers from developing countries to developed countries will help offset worker shortages in host c ou n t r i e s . B u t ma n y o f t h e m i g r a n t s w i l l b e i m p o v e r i s h e d . S oc i a l - security systems and urban in f r a s t r u c t u r e s will strain to accommodate them. Nativist backlashes will become more common. -Cetron and Davies, p. 40 * T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s h e a d e d f o r a " d e m o g r a p h i c s i n g u la r i t y . " Management professor Nat Irvin II defines the demographic s i n g u l a r i t y a s a pa c e o f c h a n g e s o f a s t t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n i d e n t i t y a s w e k n o w i t w i l l b e i r r e v e r s i b l y a l t e r e d . He p u t s t h e ye a r f o r t h e
  • 554. 554 s i n g u l a r i t y a t 2 0 1 5 , w h e n m i n o r i t i e s w i l l ma k e u p 4 0 % o f t h e U. S . p o p u la t i o n . - N a t I rv i n I I , qu o t e d i n " T h i n k i n g G l o b a l l y , Ac t i n g Locally, Living Personally," Nov-Dec 2007, p. 57 * Empowering girls through e du c a t i o n will improve future communities. Girls who have access to a de q u a t e secondary e du c a t i o n a re m u c h m o r e l i k e l y t o p ra c t i c e f a m i l y p la n n in g , a c c o r d i n g t o a n e w r e p o r t . T h e r e p o r t a l s o f i n d s t h a t e du c a t i o n i n c r e a s e s g i r l s ' c i v i c pa r t i c i p a t i o n a n d m a k e s t h e m l e s s l i k e l y t o e x p e r i e n c e s e x u a l h a r a s s m e n t , t o c o n t r a c t H I V / AI D S , o r t o f a l l v i c t i m t o s e x u a l o r l a b o r t r a f f i c k in g . - W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J a n - F e b 2 0 0 8 , p. 8 ENERGY * Access to electricity will reach 83% of the world by 2030. Electrification has expanded around the world, from 40% c o n n e c t e d i n 1 9 7 0 t o 7 3 % i n 2 0 00 , a n d m a y r e a c h 8 3 % o f t h e w o r l d ' s p e o p l e b y 2 0 3 0 . E l e c t r i c i t y i s f u n da m e n t a l t o r a i s i n g l i v i n g standards and access to the world's products and s e r v ic e s . I m p o v e r i s h e d a r e a s s u c h a s s u b - S a h a r a n Af r i c a s t i l l h a v e l o w ra t e s o f e l e c t r i f i c a t i o n ; U g a n d a i s j u s t 3 . 7 % e le c t r i f i e d . - A n d y H i n e s , " G l o b a l T r e n d s i n C u l t u r e , I n f ra s t r u c t u r e , a n d Va l u e s , " S e p - Oc t 2008, p. 20
  • 555. 555 * Architects will harness energy from the movement of crowds. MIT researchers have created a system of floor blocks that generate power when the blocks rub against one another as people w a l k o v e r t h e m . A c r o w d o f 3 0 , 0 00 m o v i n g t o a n d f r o c o u l d c r e a t e e n o u g h p o w e r t o r u n a s m a l l e le c t r i c a l s y s t e m o r p e r h a p s b r i n g a s u b w a y t r a i n s a f e l y t o a p l a tf o r m i n t h e e v e n t o f a b l a c k o u t . - W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - D e c 2 0 0 7 , p . 6 * F u t u r e c a r s m a y n o t f l y in t h e a i r , b u t t h e y m i g h t r u n o n i t . C o m p r e s s e d - a i r e n g i n e s a r e b e i n g t e s t e d t o r e p la c e g a s - p o w e r e d e n g i n e s , a c h i e v i n g s p e e d s o f 2 0 0 m p h . S o f a r, t h o u g h , t h e y r u n o u t of air quickly and still require power to compress the air, so we m a y n o t b e r i d i n g o n a i r a n y t i m e s o o n . - T o m o r r o w i n B r ie f , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 * C a p t u r i n g c a r b o n w i l l m a k e c oa l b u r n i n g c le a n e r . C a r b o n C a p t u r e a n d S t o r a g e ( C C S ) c ou l d r e d u c e t h e c a r b o n e m i t t e d f r o m c o a l - f i r e d p o w e r p l a n t s b y a s m u c h a s 9 0 % . B u t q u e s t i o n s r e m a in a s t o w h o should shoulder the costs of implementing the technology (running CCS plants is anywhere from 10% to 40% more expensive than running a traditional coal power plant) and what to do with the sequestered carbon. -World Trends & Forecasts, Nov-Dec 2007, p. 8
  • 556. 556 * P u r s u i t o f a l t e r n a t i v e s t o o i l c ou l d h e l p s t a b i l i z e ga s p r i c e s . I n c r e a s e d o i l p r o d u c t i o n a n d c o m p e t i t i o n f r o m a l t e r n a t iv e e n e r g y c ou l d c u r ta i l r i s i n g o i l p r i c e s . N e w r e f i n e r i e s a r e s c h e d u l e d t o g o online in several oil-producing countries by 2010. Meanwhile, the w o r l d w i l l h a v e 1 , 0 0 0 n u c le a r p l a n t s o p e r a t i n g b y 2 0 2 5 . U s e o f natural gas, wind power, and solar energy will also increase, t h o u g h t o a mu c h l e s s e r d e g r e e . - M a rv i n J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n Davies, "Trends Shaping Tomorrow's World, Part One," Mar-Apr 2008, p. 48 ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES * P o l l u t i o n w i l l h i t t h e w o r l d ' s e me r g i n g e c o n o m i e s h a r d e s t . A c i d rain, deforestation, and other forms of pollution will become more common in China, India, and other developing countries due to rapid industrialization and lax pollution controls. Ra t e s of pollution-related disease will rise disproportionately among these p o p u la t i o n s : C h i n a ' s r a t e o f pu l m o n a r y d i s e a s e i s f iv e t i m e s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . - M a r v i n J . Ce t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , " T r e n d s S h a p i n g T o m o r r o w ' s W o r l d , P a r t On e , " M a r - A p r 2 0 0 8 , p . 51
  • 557. 557 * T he d e s a l i n a t i o n i n d u s t r y w i l l e x p a n d g r e a t l y . T h a n k s t o l o o m i n g f re s h w a t e r s h o r t a g e s , d e s a l i n a t i o n i s l i k e l y t o b e c o m e o n e o f t h e w o r l d ' s l a r g e s t i n d u s t r i e s . U l t i m a t e l y , in l a n d c i t i e s a re l i ke l y t o f a c e m o r e p r o b l e m s t h a n c o a s t a l a re a s , i n c l u d i n g t h e n e c e s s i t y o f h u g e p i p e l i n e s . - M c K i n l e y C o n w a y , " T h e De s a l i n a t i o n S o lu t i o n , " M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 3 * C l i m a t e c h a n g e t h r e a t e n s f re s h w a t e r s u p p l i e s . R i s i n g s e a l e v e l s w i l l r e d u c e f re s h w a t e r s u p p l i e s b y 5 0 % m o r e than previous estimates have projected. As the supply decreases, global demand f o r f re s h w a t e r w i l l i n c r e a s e , e n da n g e r i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , f o o d and energy supplies, and local and international political stability. Cutting our energy consumption now could offset big reductions in a v a i l a b l e d r i n k i n g w a t e r la t e r . - W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 8 , p . 1 0 ; L e s t e r R . B r o w n , " D r a in i n g O u r Fu t u r e : T he G r o w i n g S h o r t a g e o f F re s h w a t e r , " M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 8 , p. 1 6 * Increases in the earth's temperature, no matter how slight, could trigger global mayhem and destruction. A global temperature rise of 6°C would be enough to drastically alter the world as we know it, with catastrophic consequences for human beings. Conflict over s c a r c e r e s o u r c e s w o u l d m o s t l i k e l y c a u se h u m a n c i v i l i za t i o n t o c o l l a p s e . A t e m p e r a t u r e r i s e o f j u s t 3 ° C c ou l d t r a n s f o r m t h e A m a z o n r a i n f o r e s t i n t o a d e s e r t , a n d w i t h 4 ° C , t h e la s t A l p i n e
  • 558. 558 glaciers would likely disappear. -World Trends & Forecasts, May- June 2008, p. 14 * F a r m e r s w i l l b e t h e k e y t o c o n s e r v a t i o n . Fa r m i n g c o n t r i b u t e s more carbon dioxide to the earth's atmosphere than transportation d o e s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s . B u t f a r m e r s c ou l d t h r i v e i n a l o w - c a r b o n e c o n o m y i f t h e y r e c e iv e d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r ma k i n g their tilling, planting, and livestock-raising p ra c t i c e s more e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y f r i e n d l y . - W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J a n - Fe b 2008, p. 14 HEALTH AND MEDICINE * The race for biomedical and genetic enhancement will-in the twenty-first century-be what the space race was in the previous century. Humanity is ready to pursue biomedical and genetic enhancements, says UCLA professor Gregory Stock. The money is already being invested, but, he says, "We'll also fret about these t h i n g s - b e c a u s e w e ' r e h u m a n , a n d i t ' s w h a t w e d o . " - G re g o r y S t o c k , q u o t e d i n " T h i n k i n g G l o b a l l y , Ac t i n g L o c a l l y , L i v i n g P e r s o n a l l y , " Nov-Dec 2007, p. 57 * Genetic therapies' promises will tempt more people into tampering with their DNA. New knowledge of human genetics may
  • 559. 559 lead to cures for most of today's common diseases, say researchers. It may also lead to individuals altering their own DNA to enhance their appearances, athletic abilities, and mental capacities. Researchers demand strict guidelines on what constitutes proper- a n d i m p r o p e r - a da p t a t i o n o f t h e h u m a n g e n o m e . - W o r l d T r e n d s & Forecasts, Jan-Feb 2008, p. 19 * A m e r i c a n s m a y t u r n a w a y f r o m a n t i d e p r e s s a n t s . Ac c o r d i n g t o a n t h r o p o l o g i s t H e l e n F i s h e r , A m e r i c a n s a re t a k i n g 1 0 0 m i l l i o n prescriptions for antidepressants. "We know these drugs kill the sex drive. I maintain that these drugs also kill your ability to love and your ability to stay in love," she says. As possible side effects become more a p pa r e n t , fewer people may elect to take a n t i d e p r e s s a n t d r u g s l i k e P r o z a c a n d P a x i l . - He l e n F i s h e r , q u o t e d i n " T h i n k i n g G l o b a l l y , A c t i n g L o c a l l y , L i v in g P e r s o n a l l y , " N o v - D e c 2 0 0 7 , p. 5 6 * Synthetic blood may alleviate donor blood shortages. Researchers at the University of Sheffield in England have developed a sterile s y n t h e t i c b l o o d m a d e o f m i l l i o n s o f p l a s t i c m o l e c u le s r e s e m b l i n g h e m o g l o b i n . U n l i k e d o n a t e d b l o o d , w h i c h h a s a s h e l f l if e o f j u s t 3 5 d a y s a n d m u s t b e r e f r i g e r a t e d , t h e p la s t i c b l o o d c a n b e s t o r e d f o r m o n t h s o n e n d a t r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e . - T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , N o v - De c 2 0 0 7 , p. 2
  • 560. 560 * Smokers are more likely to develop dementia. Current smokers have a 50% greater risk of dementia and 70% higher risk of Alzheimer's disease than nonsmokers. Researchers blame smoking f o r s t r e s s i n g b l o o d v e s s e l s a n d r a i s i n g t h e l i k e l i h o o d o f c on t r a c t i n g cerebrovascular disease, a disorder associated with dementia. -Tomorrow in Brief, Jan-Feb 2008, p. 2 * Saving snakes may save ourselves. The venom of the timber rattlesnake may have undiscovered m e d i c in a l properties, bu t h a b i t a t l o s s a n d h u m a n pe r s e c u t i o n h a v e p u t t h e r a t t l e r o n t h e endangered species list. Losing the snake means humanity will lose access to research that could yield cures for diabetes and other problems. -Tomorrow in Brief, Nov-Dec 2007, p. 2 * C a n c e r t r e a t m e n t s w i l l b e s a f e r . R a d i o i m m u n o t h e r a p y - t h e u se o f radioactive atoms to kill viruses that cause some unhealthy tumor growths-will enable doctors to fight cancer while causing less harm to patients' bodies. These therapies would have minimum impact on healthy tissues and would prevent much tumor growth before operations are needed. -World Trends & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2008, p. 12
  • 561. 561 * Better blood flow, more energy, thanks to high-tech underwear. Compression tights can help those with potential health problems d u e t o p o o r c i r c u l a t i o n . T he h i g h - t e c h u n d e r g a r m e n t s ( m a d e b y Skins USA) are body-hugging gradient tights that are engineered to accelerate blood flow, resulting in greater concentration and higher energy, enhanced performance, and less discomfort overall. - W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 8 , p . 1 0 * F u n g i m a y h e l p f i g h t d i s e a s e . Fu n g i m a y o f f e r h o p e f o r n e w medicines that can combat drug-resistant microorganisms. Natural c o m p o u n d s h a r n e s s e d f r o m f u n g i ma y p o t e n t i a l l y b e u t i l i z e d i n antibiotics and nutraceutical products. -Tomorrow in Brief, May- June 2008, p. 2 INFORMATION SOCIETY * Everything you say and do may be recorded. By the late 2010s, ubiquitous unseen n a n o d e v ic e s will provide seamless c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d s u r v e i l l a n c e a m o n g a l l pe o p l e e v e r y w h e r e . Hu m a n s w i l l h a v e n a n o i m p l a n t s , f a c i l i t a t i n g i n t e r a c t i o n in a n omnipresent network. Everyone will have a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. Since nano storage capacity is almost limitless, all conversation and activity will be recorded and
  • 562. 562 recoverable. -Gene Stephens, "Cybercrime in the Year 2025," July- Aug 2008, p. 34 * I de n t i t y t h e f t a n d o t h e r I n te r n e t c r i m e s w i l l in c r e a s e a t a f a s t e r pa c e . I d e n t i t y t h e f t , a l r e a d y t h e n u m b e r - o n e c r i m e i n t h e Un i t e d S ta t e s a n d r a p i d l y e x p a n d i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e I n t e r n e t w o r l d , c a n b e e x p e c t e d t o w r e a k h a v o c o n t h e f in a n c i a l a n d s o c i a l w o r l d s o f millions around the globe. Also, as wireless communications networks continue to become more prevalent, new cybercrimes will be invented. Designer nanobots may be loosed on the Web to e n g e n d e r t y p e s o f m i s c h i e f a n d d e s t r u c t i o n n o t ye t c o n t e m p l a t e d . - S t e p h e n s , p. 3 4 * You'll have more friends whom you'll never meet, and cyberfriends may outnumber real-life friends. The generation of young people now ages 12 to 24 years old may have more friends w h o m t h e y w i l l h a v e n e v e r m e t i n pe r s o n . U n l i ke o l d e r c o h o r t s , G e n Y e r s ( a k a t h e m i l l e n n i a l g e n e r a t i o n ) a re c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h befriending strangers virtually via social networking sites and other cyber options that connect people based on their interests rather than physical location. -Andy Hines, "Global Trends in C u l t u r e , I n f ra s t r u c t u r e , a n d V a l u e s , " S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 0
  • 563. 563 * I n t h e f u tu r e , y o u ' l l l i s t e n t o b o o k s a n d r e a d y o u r c e l l p h o n e . Ha l f o f J a pa n ' s t o p 1 0 b e s t - s e l l i n g b o o k s l a s t y e a r s t a r t e d o u t a s cell phone-based text message novels. A Japanese author became a c r o s s - c on t i n e n t m e d i a s e n s a t i o n w h e n a n o v e l h e o r i g i n a l l y t e x t e d into his cell phone sold more than 3 million copies as a printed b o o k . - P a t r i c k T u c k e r , " T h e 2 1 s t - Ce n t u r y W r i t e r , " J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 8 , p. 25 et seq. * Reach out and thwart a terrorist. Networks of cell phones could one day be deployed to detect and track radiological weapons i n t e n d e d f o r u se i n a d i r t y - b o m b t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k . S i n c e c e l l p h o n e s a l r e a d y h a v e g l o b a l p o s i t i o n i n g l o c a t o r s , e qu i p p i n g in d i v i d u a l phones with highly sensitive radiation detectors would provide nearly ubiquitous monitoring. Because the most likely targets of a radiological attack would be congested cities filled with gadget- d e p e n d e n t p e o p l e , a c e l l p h o n e - b a s e d d e t e c t i o n s y s t e m w o u l d m a ke i t d i f f i c u l t f o r a t e r r o r i s t t o g o u n n o t i c e d . - T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 * M o r e g i r l s m a y b e c o m e v ic t i m s o f c y b e r b u l l y i n g . A s g i r l s s p e n d m o r e t i m e c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h f r i e n d s v ia c e l l p h o n e a n d t h e Internet (chat rooms, message boards, instant messaging, etc.), they are increasingly at risk of attacks from cyberbullies- a c q u a i n t a n c e s a n d s t r a n g e r s a l i ke . Un l i k e r e a l - w o r l d b u l l y i n g ,
  • 564. 564 harassment in cyberspace can be a 24/7, global phenomenon conducted anonymously. Options for combating cyberbullies include setting up blocks to messages from unfriendly sources and n o t r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e m , t h u s n o t r e w a r d i n g t h e b u l l ie s w i t h t h e a t t e n t i o n t h e y s e e k . - W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 8 , p . 14 * H o t e l r o o m s w i l l b e c o m e i n t e r a c t i v e , a n t i c i pa t i n g y o u r n e e d s l i k e a built-in butler. Tomorrow's hotel rooms will go out of their way to meet their guests' needs. Marriott's Teaching Hotel is testing alarm clocks that run away from you after they go off, digital pe e p h o l e s t h a t d i s p l a y v i s i t o r s o n w a l l - m o u n t e d L C D s c r e e n s , l i g h t s t h a t t u r n t h e m s e l v e s o f f a f t e r y o u le a v e t h e r o o m , a n d f l a m e l e s s e l e c t r o n i c c a n d l e s t h a t ma k e f o r c o n v e n ie n t r o m a n t i c ambience. -World Trends & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2008, p. 12 TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE * T h e I n te r n e t w i l l b e c o m e m o r e f a c tu a l l y r e l i a b l e a n d m o r e transparent. Internet entrepreneur Andrew Keen believes that the anonymity of today's Internet 2.0 will give way to a more open Internet 3.0 in which thirdparty g a t e ke e p e r s monitor the i n f o r m a t i o n p o s t e d o n W e b s i t e s t o v e r if y i t s a c c u ra c y . K e e n s e e s a growing trend toward sites requiring contributors to identify
  • 565. 565 themselves and pa y i n g them for their submissions. -Patrick Tucker, "Fighting the Cult of the Amateur," Jan- Feb 2008, p. 33 * L a s e r s a t e l l i t e s w i l l b e a m d a t a f a s t e r . U s i n g la s e r s in s t e a d o f radio waves c ou l d speed satellite-based data exchange a hundredfold. As the amount of data sent around the world-and t h r o u g h s p a c e - p r o l i f e r a t e s , l a s e r s w i l l e n a b l e la r g e r d a t a p a c ke t s t o b e t r a n s m i t t e d u s i n g l e s s b a n d w i d t h . O n e b a r r i e r i s ma k i n g t h e la s e r pu m p m o d u l e s d u r a b l e e n o u g h t o w i t h s t a n d t h e f o r c e s o f la u n c h e s and harsh space environments. -World Trends & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p. 1 3 * T h e t e c h n o l o g y ra c e b e t w e e n J a p a n a n d S ou t h K o r e a w i l l i n t e n s i f y . S o u t h K o r e a h a s m a n d a t e d a r o b o t in e v e r y h o m e b y 2020. Japan is hoping to accomplish the same goal by 2015. -Cecily S o m m e r s , qu o t e d i n " T h i n k i n g G l o b a l l y , Ac t i n g L o c a l l y , L i v i n g Personally," Nov- Dec 2007, p. 57 * Lunar habitation gets polar test. NASA's Constellation Program i s p la n n i n g a y e a r - l o n g t e s t - r u n o f a p o t e n t i a l l u n a r h a b i t a t a t a s i t e i n A n t a r c t i c a . T he p r o g r a m , w h o s e g o a l i s t o s e n d h u m a n s b a c k t o t h e M o o n b y 2 0 2 0 , j u d g e s t h e A n t a r c t ic ' s e x t r e m e c l i m a t e t o b e the closest ecosystem that Earth has to lunar conditions. -World T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - Ap r 2 0 0 8 , p. 1 0
  • 566. 566 * TV in 3-D. Tomorrow's televisions may not need screens. Mathematicians in Finland have produced a blueprint for instruments that would project floating 3-D images by means of nanomaterials that bend light around objects. -Tomorrow in Brief, Mar-Apr 2008, p. 2 * Optical clocks may enable us to measure time much more p r e c i s e l y . S e pa r a t e t e a m s o f r e s e a r c h e r s i n G e r m a n y a n d t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s h a v e s u c c e e d e d i n d e v e l o p i n g o p t i c a l c l o c k s t h a t u se la s e r s t o c a p t u r e s t r o n t i u m a t o m s a n d m e a s u r e t h e i r f r e q u e n c ie s . T h e n e w c l o c k s h a v e t h e a b i l i t y t o m e a s u r e t i m e mu c h m o r e p r e c i s e l y a n d i n m u c h s m a l l e r i n t e rv a l s t h a n t h e s t a n d a r d a t o m i c clocks used today, which measure the oscillation of the movement o f c e s i u m a t o m s . - W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 8 , p . 1 0 * S i l i c o n v e r s u s g r a p h e n e . G ra p h e n e , a f o r m o f c a r b o n c o m b i n i n g aspects of semiconductors and metals, could replace silicon in a variety of applications, including high-speed computer chips and biomedical sensors. Researchers have f ou n d that graphene conducts electricity with less resistance than any other known m a t e r i a l. Graphene yields h i g h - e le c t r o n speed in near-room t e m p e r a t u r e c o n d i t i o n s , w h i c h i s c r i t i c a l t o m a k in g t h e c h i p s p r a c t i c a l . - T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 8 , p. 2
  • 567. 567 TRANSPORTATION * The car's days as king of the road may soon be over. If current trends continue, the world will have to make way for 200 million n e w c a r s a y e a r b y 2 0 5 0 , f o r a t o t a l o f 3 b i l l i o n v e h i c le s o n t h e r o a d . T h a t s c e n a r i o c ou l d b e a l t e r e d w i t h m o r e p o w e r f u l w i r e l e s s c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h a t r e d u c e s d e m a n d f o r t r a v e l, f l y in g d e l iv e r y drones to replace trucks, and policies to restrict the number of vehicles owned in each household. -Thomas J. Frey, "Disrupting t h e A u t o m o b i l e ' s F u t u r e , " S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 8 , p. 3 9 e t s e q . * Flying cars may be on the way at last. Ever since The Jetsons m a d e t h e d a i l y a e r i a l c o m m u t e s o a t t r a c t i v e i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s , pe o p l e h a v e b e e n l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o a f u tu r e f u l l o f f l y i n g c a r s . O n e r e a s o n i t h a s n ' t h a p pe n e d ye t i s t h e w e i g h t r a t i o o f t h e p r o p u l s i o n system: A small aircraft with small propellers would need more thrust to fly, making it a very e x pe n s i v e proposition. But i n n o v a t i o n s s u c h a s t h e M 40 0 S k y c a r b y P a u l M o l l e r a r e g r a d u a l l y s h o w i n g t h e wa y t o t h e f u t u r e o f p e r s o n a l i z e d h u m a n f l i g h t . - P a t r i c k T u c k e r , " U p , U p , a n d A w a y " ( S p e c ia l S e c t i o n , " S c i e n c e F i c t i o n v s. R e a l i t y " ) , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p . 3 2
  • 568. 568 * S e lf - r e pa i r i n g s p a c e c r a f t w i l l m a k e s p a c e t r a v e l m o r e a f f o r d a b l e . The cost of space flight could be halved due to a new liquid that a u t o m a t i c a l l y d e p l o y s t o c o v e r d a m a g e o n t h e s p a c e c ra f t ' s s u r f a c e . The Bristol University researchers who developed the material say t h a t a s p a c e c ra f t e q u i p pe d w i t h i t c o u l d t a k e m o r e f r e qu e n t s p a c e missions, stay in space longer, and require f e we r repairs. -Tomorrow in Brief, Jan-Feb 2008, p. 2 * M o b i l i t y i s b e c o m i n g a p r i o r i t y t o m o r e pe o p l e i n r i s i n g economies: More people will travel farther faster. Personal mobility is increasing in rapidly expanding economies, thanks to small vehicles such as T a ta Motors' "people's car." Better transportation opens more opportunities for shopping, employment, and social interaction beyond one's own neighborhood or village, but longer commutes decrease the amount o f t i m e a v a i l a b l e f o r s u c h a c t iv i t i e s . - A n d y H i n e s , " G l o b a l T r e n d s i n C u l t u r e , I n f r a s t r u c t u r e , a n d V a lu e s , " S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p . 2 1 * Research labs are coming closer to "beaming" us up. Star Trek- type transporters may soon be possible for data transmission, but n o t f o r s e n d i n g p e o p l e p l a c e s . D A R P A r e s e a r c h e r s a r e pu r s u i n g technologies that could reduce particles to a wave state, so the quantum rise. Total employment in the Un i t e d S ta t e s will i n i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e pa r t i c l e i s w h a t w o u l d b e t r a n s m i t t e d
  • 569. 569 r a t h e r t h a n t h e p a r t i c l e i t s e l f . T h e o r i g i n a l d i s a p p e a r s in o n e p la c e , a n d t h e q u a n tu m i n f o r m a t i o n r e c r e a t e s i t i n a n o t h e r p l a c e . - M a rv i n J . C e t r o n , " B e a m M e U p , D A R P A " ( S p e c ia l S e c t i o n , "Science Fiction vs. Reality"), Sep-Oct 2008, p. 35 VALUES AND SOCIETY * People will have more sex. With women's growing economic p o w e r a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , a r r a n g e d m a r r i a g e s a re b e c o m i n g l e s s likely. As a result, women will feel freer to express their sexuality. Rising trends in health also portend more sexual activity, a c c o r d i n g t o s o c i o l o g i s t H e l e n F i s h e r . P e o p l e w h o a re r e la t i v e l y healthy have more sex. -Helen Fisher, quoted in "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally, Living Personally," Nov-Dec 2007, p. 56 * U . S . c u l tu r a l h e g e m o n y ma y b e o v e r . T h e d a y s o f U . S . a n d F i r s t World dominance over the world's culture and economy may soon be over. Useful ideas from less-developed countries, such as the t h r e e - w h e e le d "tuk-tuk" common in crowded megacities, are c a p t u r i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n o f h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d p la c e s . - A n d y H i n e s , " G l o b a l T r e n d s i n C u l t u r e , I n f ra s t r u c t u r e , a n d Va l u e s , " S e p - O c t 2008, p. 19
  • 570. 570 * C a p i t a l i s m i n C h i n a c ou l d s p u r g r o w t h in r e l i g i o n . C h i n a m a y experience a rapid growth in religions as the skyrocketing economy c re a t e s t u mu l t u o u s changes and a yearning for stabilizing influences. Christianity is the fastest-growing faith in China, w h e r e t h e g o v e r n m e n t r e c o g n i z e s j u s t f iv e r e l i g i o n s : B u d d h i s m , Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. -Tomorrow in B r i e f , S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 8 , p . 2 * O r g a n i z e d r e l i g i o n ' s a p p e a l i s d e c l i n i n g i n t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s . U . S . r e l i g i o u s c o n g r e g a t i o n s a r e c u r r e n t l y f a c in g s l i g h t l y d e c l in i n g o v e r a l l a t t e n d a n c e n u m b e r s , d e s p i t e a 4 0 % p o p u la t i o n i n c r e a s e o v e r t h e pa s t 3 5 y e a r s . A s a r e s u l t , t r a d i t i o n a l W e s t e r n r e l i g i o n ' s influence over the mainstream will likely continue to wane. -World T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 8 , p . 1 6 * N e w g e n e r a t i o n s , n e w v a l u e s . S e lf r e l i a n c e a n d c o o p e r a t i o n w i l l b e c o m e p r e v a l e n t s o c i e t a l v a lu e s a s G e n e r a t i o n X a n d G e n e r a t i o n Y r e p la c e t h e b a b y - b o o m g e n e r a t i o n . G e n X e r s a n d G e n Y e r s a re highly entrepreneurial. They are also very socially aware. Societies c a n e x pe c t m o r e s m a l l - b u s i n e s s a c t iv i t y , m o r e s o c i a l a c t i v i s m , a n d g r e a t e r o u t r e a c h a c r o s s c u l t u r e s a n d p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s . - M a rv i n J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , " T r e n d s S h a p in g T o m o r r o w ' s W o r l d , P a r t O n e , " M a r - A p r 2 0 0 8 , p. 4 2
  • 571. 571 * Travelers might book their next flight to "Privacy Island." Communications technologies have enabled workers to be c o n n e c t e d t o t h e i r w o r k 2 4 / 7 / 3 6 5 . B u t pe r p e t u a l l y i n c r e a s i n g d e m a n d s o n p e o p l e ' s t i m e m a y r u n u p a ga i n s t a c o u n t e r t r e n d : increasing demand for free time. Places might offer "communication-free zones" to harried customers as a respite from their "always on" work lives. -Hines, p. 19 * M o r e pe o p l e w i l l c on s u m e e t h i c a l l y . A r e c e n t t r e n d t o w a r d " g r e e n " c on s u m p t i o n i s o n l y t h e t i p o f t h e e t h i c a l i c e b e r g : Corporations will increasingly lure customers by promoting their ethics in hiring practices (e.g. diversity in the boardroom, limited outsourcing), R&D standards (e.g. no animal testing), and philanthropic activity. -Hines, p. 22 * Divorces may leave bigger environmental footprints. Rising d i v o r c e r a t e s c o s t e n e r g y , wa t e r , a n d o t h e r n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s du e t o h o u s e h o l d s b r e a k i n g u p a n d f a m i l y m e m b e r s r e le g a t i n g t o s e p a ra t e d w e l l i n g u n i t s , a c c o r d i n g t o a M ic h i g a n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y study. The researchers note that cohabitation saves society building materials and utility costs. -Tomorrow in Brief, Mar-Apr 2008, p. 2
  • 572. 572 * A m e r i c a n a du l t s a re d e l a y in g t h e f u t u r e . F o r t y - o n e p e r c e n t o f U . S . a d u l t s s a y t h e y a re d e l a y i n g m a j o r l i f e d e c i s i o n s , s u c h a s buying a home, marrying, or even undergoing a medical procedure, a c c o r d i n g t o a r e c e n t Ha r r i s P o l l . T h e m a i n r e a s o n c i t e d i s a l a c k o f pe r s o n a l s a v i n g s , a l o n g w i t h c o n c e r n s a b o u t t h e U . S . e c o n o m y ' s o v e r a l l f u tu r e . - T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 8 , p . 2 WORK AND CAREERS * S u c c e e d i n g i n f u tu r e n i c h e c a re e r s m a y m e a n c h o o s i n g a n unusual major. An increase in unusual college majors may foretell the growth of unique new career specialties. Instead of simply m a j o r i n g i n b u s i n e s s , m o r e s t u d e n t s a r e b e g i n n in g t o e x p l o r e n ic h e majors such as sustainable business, strategic intelligence, and entrepreneurship. Other unusual majors that a re capturing students' imaginations: neuroscience and nanotechnology, computer and digital forensics, and comic book art. Scoff not: The m a r k e t f o r c o m i c b o o k s a n d g r a p h i c n o v e l s in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a s grown 12% since 2006. -World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2008, p. 8 * Employment in the United States will continue to rise. Total e m p l o y m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s w i l l in c r e a s e b y 1 5. 6 m i l l i o n j o b s between 2006 and 2016. However, this rate is slightly slower than
  • 573. 573 t h a t o f t h e p r e v i o u s d e c a d e . " I n - pe r s o n " j o b s s u c h a s h e a l t h - c a r e and other service workers will grow, while jobs that can be o u t s o u r c e d l i k e l y w i l l b e . E x pe r t s r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u n g p e o p l e e du c a t e t h e m s e l v e s n o w f o r m o r e - g l o b a l c a re e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n the future. -World Trends & Forecasts, May-June 2008, p. 6 * Tomorrow's high-tech cowboys will telecommute. "Cow w h i s p e r i n g " r a n c h e r s w i l l b e a b le t o r o u n d u p h e r d s r e m o t e l y , t h a n k s t o t e c h n o l o g i e s l i k e G P S a n d R F I D . L i v e s t o c k o u tf i t t e d w i t h t r a c k i n g d e v i c e s a n d e a r p ie c e s w i l l a l l o w t h e i r h e r d e r s t o c on t r o l t h e i r m o v e m e n t m o r e c o s t - e f f e c t i v e l y a n d e f f i c i e n t l y . - T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 8 , p. 2 * P r o f e s s i o n a l k n o w l e d g e w i l l b e c o m e o b s o l e t e m o r e q u ic k l y . A n individual's professional knowledge is becoming outdated at a much faster rate than ever before. Most professions will require c o n t i n u o u s i n s t r u c t i o n a n d r e t r a i n i n g . R a p i d c h a n g e s in t h e j o b market and w o r k - r e la t e d technologies will necessitate job e du c a t i o n f o r a l m o s t e v e r y w o r k e r . A t a n y g i v e n m o m e n t , a substantial portion of the labor force will be in job retraining p r o g r a m s . - M a r v i n J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n Da v ie s , " T re n d s S h a p in g T o m o r r o w ' s W o r l d , P a r t T w o , " M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 8 , p. 4 1
  • 574. 574 WORLD AFFAIRS * T h e M i d d l e E a s t m a y b e c o m e m o r e s e c u la r . P o p u l a r s u p p o r t f o r r e l i g i o u s g o v e r n m e n t i s d e c l i n in g i n p l a c e s l i ke I ra q , a c c o r d i n g t o a U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n s t u d y . T he r e s e a r c h e r s r e p o r t t h a t i n 2 0 0 4 o n l y o n e f o u r t h o f r e s p o n d e n t s p o l l e d b e l i e v e d t h a t I ra q would be a better place if religion and politics were separated. By 2 0 0 7 , t h a t p r o p o r t i o n wa s o n e - t h i r d . - W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , Nov-Dec 2007, p. 10 * Bioviolence will become a greater threat as the technology becomes more accessible. In the next decade, biological t e c h n o l o g i e s t h a t w e r e o n c e a t t h e f u r t h e s t f r o n t i e r s o f s c ie n c e w i l l become available to anyone with a modicum of scientific training. Emerging scientific disciplines (notably genomics, nanotechnology, a n d o t h e r m i c r o s c i e n c e s ) c ou l d p a v e t h e w a y f o r a b i o a t t a c k . B a c te r i a a n d v i r u s e s c ou l d b e a l t e r e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e i r l e t h a l i t y o r to evade antibiotic treatment. Also, diseases once thought to be e ra d i c a t e d c o u l d b e r e s y n t h e s i z e d , e n a b l i n g t h e m t o s p r e a d i n n e w regions. -Barry Kellman, "Bioviolence: A Growing Threat," May- June 2008, p. 25 et seq. * W a r s w i l l e x te n d t h e i r i m p a c t t o i n n o c e n t v i c t i m s , i n c l u d i n g f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s . N a n o p o l l u t i o n f r o m m o d e r n w a rf a r e r e p r e s e n t s
  • 575. 575 a s i g n i f i c a n t a d d i t i o n a l r i s k f o r b o t h s o l d i e r s a n d c iv i l s o c i e t i e s . N a n o p a r t i c l e s c ou l d b e d e f i n e d a s " i n v i s i b l e b u l l e t s , " s i n c e n o s e n s o r s h a v e a s y e t b e e n u se d t o d e t e c t t h e m i n b o m b e d t e r r i t o r i e s . N a n o p a r t i c l e s c o u l d p o t e n t i a l l y c a u s e n e w d i s e a s e s w i t h u n u su a l a n d d i f f i c u l t - t o - t r e a t s y m p t o m s , a n d t h e y w i l l i n f l ic t d a m a g e f a r beyond the traditional b a t t l e f ie l d . -Antonietta M. Gatti and S te f a n o M o n t a n a r i , " Na n o p o l l u t i o n : T h e I n v i s i b l e F o g o f F u t u r e Wars," May-June 2008, p. 32 * Climate change is already spurring armed conflict. A hotter p la n e t m a y b e a m o r e w a r - t o r n o n e , s a y s a H o n g K o n g s t u d y . T he s t u d y f ou n d t h a t s u d d e n c h a n g e s i n t e m p e r a t u r e f r o m 1 4 0 0 C E t o 1900 CE consistently disrupted world food and water supplies, which led to more populations going to war. The study's authors w o r r y t h a t r i s i n g t e m p e ra t u r e s t o d a y m i g h t s i m i l a r l y l e a d t o s t r i f e . - W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - Ap r 2 0 0 8 , p. 6 * T he w o r l d ' s l e g a l s y s t e m s w i l l b e n e t w o r k e d . T he G l o b a l L e g a l I n f o r m a t i o n N e t w o r k ( G L I N ) , a d a t a b a s e o f l o c a l a n d n a t i o n a l la w s f o r m o r e t h a n 5 0 p a r t i c i pa t i n g c ou n t r i e s , w i l l g r o w t o i n c lu d e m o r e than 100 counties by 2010. The database will lay the groundwork f o r a m o r e u n i v e r s a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e d iv e r s i t y o f la w s b e t w e e n n a t i o n s a n d w i l l c r e a t e n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r pe a c e a n d international partnership. -Joseph N. Pelton, "Toward a Global
  • 576. 576 R u le o f L a w : A P r a c t i c a l S t e p T o w a r d W o r l d P e a c e , " N o v - D e c 2 0 0 7 , p. 25 * Militaries will use neuroscience breakthroughs to win future w a r s . A n a d v a n c e d u n de r s t a n d i n g o f t h e m i n d a n d h o w i t o p e r a t e s a n d r e s p o n d s t o c r i s e s w i l l b e ke y t o m i l i t a r i e s s e e k i n g t o s e c u r e competitive advantage over their adversaries, according to r e s e a rc h e r s a t S a n d i a N a t i o n a l L a b o r a t o r i e s ' H u m a n S y s t e m s a n d S i m u l a t i o n s T e c h n o l o g i e s D e pa r t m e n t . - T o m o r r o w i n B r ie f , N o v - Dec 2007, p. 2 OUTLOOK 2008 BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS The world will have a billion millionaires by 2025. Globalization and technological innovation are driving this increased prosperity, a c c o r d i n g t o J a m e s C a n t o n , a u t h o r o f T h e E x t r e m e Fu t u r e . B u t c ha l l e n g e s t o p r o s p e r i t y w i l l a l s o b e c o m e m o r e a c u te , s u c h a s w a t e r s h o r t a g e s t h a t w i l l a f f e c t t w o - t h i r d s o f w o r l d p o p u la t i o n b y 2025, he predicts. — Patrick Tucker, “Managing a Future of E x t r e m e s ” [ b o o k r e v i e w ] , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p. 5 4 Counterfeiting of currency will proliferate, driving the move toward a cashless society. Sophisticated new optical scanning
  • 577. 577 technologies have been a boon for currency counterfeiters, so s o c i e t i e s a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y pu t t i n g a s i d e t h e i r p r i v a c y f e a r s a b o u t going cashless. Meanwhile, cashless technologies are improving, m a k i n g t h e m f a r e a s i e r a n d s a f e r t o u s e . — A l l e n H . K u pe t z , “ O u r C a s h l e s s F u t u r e , ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p. 3 7 C a s h l e s s t r a n s a c t i o n s w i l l m e a n t h e e n d o f “ g r a c e pe r i o d s . ” Ca s h exchanges will gradually be replaced by real-time “ f r a c ta l ” transactions — i.e. instant automatic payment to everyone involved i n a pu r c h a s e , f r o m p r o d u c e r t o d i s t r i b u t o r t o r e t a i l e r . W i r e l e s s handheld devices will process and distribute money to all of the recipients instantaneously, splitting the transaction like a fractal and avoiding the delays of non-cash money transactions such as checks and c re d i t - c a r d pa y m e n t s . — Thomas Frey, “Fractal T ra n s a c t i o n s : L a u n c h i n g t h e Fu t u r e o f M o n e y , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 7 , p . 1 1 The U.S. fiscal imbalance will worsen. At current spending levels, U . S . f e de r a l d e f i c i t s w i l l r e a c h u n s u s t a i n a b l e l e v e l s in a s l i t t l e a s two decades, at which point, without significant policy changes, d e f i c i t s c o u l d r e a c h 1 0 % o r m o r e o f t h e U . S . e c o n o m y . — Da v i d M . W a l k e r , “ F o r e s i g h t f o r G ov e r n m e n t , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 7 , p . 2 0 S ha r i n g r i s k t h r o u g h “ m i c r o i n s u r a n c e ” c o u l d h e l p c o m m u n i t i e s r e b u i l d a f t e r n a tu r a l d i s a s t e r s . T h e w o r l d ’ s p o o r e s t p e o p l e o f t e n
  • 578. 578 l i v e i n t h e p la c e s m o s t l i k e l y t o b e s t r u c k b y n a tu r a l d i s a s t e r s — and they are the least likely to have insurance. Now, they are increasingly turning to microinsurance programs, which, like m i c r o c r e d i t , a l l o w pa r t i c i p a n t s i n a c o m m u n i t y t o p o o l t h e i r r i s k a n d h e n c e l o w e r t h e i r p r e m i u m s t o a s l i t t l e a s $ 2 pe r y e a r . — World Trends & Forecasts, May-June 2007, p. 16 T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l s e e a s h r i n k i n g l a b o r f o rc e a n d g r o w i n g income disparity by 2050. Both trends will affect the nation’s long- term fiscal health as the economy continues to move away from m a n u f a c tu r i n g j o b s a n d t o w a r d s e r v i c e s a n d h i g h - t e c h o c c u p a t i o n s . Such work typically requires more-expensive education that is out o f r e a c h f o r m a n y w o r k i n g - c la s s f a m i l i e s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & Forecasts, July-Aug 2007, p. 9 S oc i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e i n v e s t i n g m a y g e t a b o o s t f r o m v e n t u r e capitalists. Investment in “green” or clean technologies such as a l t e r n a t i v e f u e l d e v e l o p m e n t i s g a in i n g m o m e n t u m . T h i s n e w interest by venture capitalists follows a trend led by individual investors and mutual funds to weigh social values alongside f i n a n c i a l r e p o r t s . T he d i f f e r e n c e i s t h a t t h e c a p i ta l i s t s i n c r e a s i n g l y s e e t h e s e i n v e s t m e n t s a s a wa y t o m a ke m o r e m o n e y — n o t j u s t d o good. — World Trends & Forecasts, July-Aug 2007, p. 14
  • 579. 579 DEMOGRAPHY World population by 2050 may grow larger than previously e x p e c t e d , d u e i n pa r t t o h e a l t h i e r , l o n g e r - l iv i n g pe o p l e . S l o w e r t h a n e x p e c t e d d e c l i n e s o f f e r t i l i t y in d e v e l o p i n g c ou n t r i e s a n d i n c r e a s i n g l o n g e v i t y i n r i c h e r c ou n t r i e s a r e c o n t r i b u t i n g t o a higher rate of population growth. As a result, the UN has increased its forecast for global population from 9.1 billion people by 2050 to 9.2 billion. — World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2007, p. 10 A growth in the world’s poor population is likely. The earth’s p o p u la t i o n i s p r o j e c t e d t o i n c r e a s e b y 2 . 5 b i l l i o n p e o p l e i n t h e n e x t f ou r d e c a d e s , m o s t o f t h e m i n t h e c ou n t r i e s t h a t a r e l e a s t a b l e t o grow food. Research indicates that these trends could be offset by improved global education among the world’s developing p o p u la t i o n s . P o p u l a t i o n d e c l i n e s s h a r p l y in c o u n t r i e s w h e r e a l m o s t all women can read and where GDP is high. — James Martin, “The 1 7 G r e a t C h a l l e n g e s o f t h e T w e n t y - F i r s t Ce n t u r y , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 7 , p . 21 C o n f l i c t s c ou l d a r i s e b e t w e e n t e m p o r a r y i m m i g r a n t s a n d l o n g - t e r m immigrants. Millions of people from the developing world migrate to the wealthy nations every year to put down new roots, while m a n y o t h e r s h o p e t o w o r k , l e ga l l y o r i l l e g a l l y, f o r a s h o r t pe r i o d
  • 580. 580 and send money to family back home. Among Latino immigrants to t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h i s t r a n s f e r a m o u n t s t o m o r e t h a n $ 5 0 b i l l i o n p e r y e a r . I n t h e f u tu r e , t h e c o m p e t i n g i n t e r e s t s o f pe r m a n e n t a n d t e m p o r a r y i m m i g r a n t g r o u p s w i l l b e c o m e m o r e a p p a r e n t , a n d c o n f l i c t s m o r e l i k e l y . — E r i c G a r la n d , “ L a t i n o s i n A m e r i c a ’ s C u l t u ra l L a b o r a t o r y , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 7 , p . 1 9 U n r e a l i s t i c e x pe c t a t i o n s w i l l l e a d m a n y m e m b e r s o f g e n e r a t i o n s X a n d Y d o w n t h e w r o n g c a re e r p a t h . R o u g h l y 5 0 % o f h i g h - s c h o o l s e n i o r s i n 2 0 0 0 w e r e p la n n i n g t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r e du c a t i o n a f t e r college and get an advanced degree, compared with only 20% of s e n i o r s i n 1 9 7 6 . M e a n w h i l e , t h e a c tu a l p e r c e n t a g e o f h i g h - s c h o o l seniors who obtained a dv a n c e d degrees remained the same, suggesting that many of today’s young people have unrealistic e x p e c t a t i o n s a b o u t t h e f u tu r e . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 7 , p. 1 1 I n f a n t m o r t a l i t y , c u r r e n t l y a t a h i s t o r i c l o w , c ou l d r i s e . A t j u s t 5 7 d e a t h s o f c h i l d r e n u n d e r t h e a g e o f 1 p e r 1 , 0 00 l i v e b i r t h s , t h e i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y r a t e i s a t i t s l o w e s t l e v e l in h i s t o r y . B u t t h e t r e n d m a y b e b e g i n n i n g t o r e v e r s e . T he r a t e o f d e c l i n e in i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y has slowed significantly since 1950 because of a stagnation in h e a l t h - c a r e i m p r o v e m e n t s , a n d i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y h a s i n c r e a s e d in
  • 581. 581 s o m e d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s , d u e t o HI V / A I DS a n d o t h e r p r o b l e m s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 6 , p . 1 3 ENERGY G l o b a l o i l p r o d u c t i o n w i l l s o o n p e a k . De v e l o p i n g n a t i o n s g r o w i n g h u n g r i e r f o r s c a r c e o i l s u p p l i e s , c ou p l e d w i t h c o n c e r n o v e r t h e environment in developed nations, will signal the end of the oil e ra . P e t r o l e u m a l t e r n a t i v e s n o w c o m p r i s e a b o u t 1 7 % o f g l o b a l e n e r g y u s e a n d a r e g r o w i n g a t 3 0 % pe r y e a r . B y 2 0 2 0 , 3 0 % o f global energy is likely to come from alternative energy sources. — W i l l i a m E . H a l a l, “ T e c h n o l o g y ’ s P r o m i s e : H i g h l i g h t s f r o m t h e TechCast Project,” Nov-Dec 2006, p. 44 W o r l d w i d e c o n s u m p t i o n o f c ru d e o i l w i l l g r o w m o r e t h a n 4 0 % b y 2 0 2 5 . A l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h i s i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d w i l l o c c u r in t h e United States, which uses and imports more oil than any other nation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook for 2005, U.S. gross imports of oil are e x p e c t e d t o i n c r e a s e f r o m 1 2 . 3 m i l l i o n b a r r e l s pe r d a y i n 2 0 0 3 t o 20.2 million by 2025. — T sv i Bisk, “The Energy Project: I n d e p e n d e n c e b y 2 0 2 0 , ” J a n - Fe b 2 0 0 7 , p . 3 3
  • 582. 582 Biobutanol — an advanced biofuel made from wheat, corn, sugarcane, and other agricultural feedstocks — will gain in p o p u la r i t y o v e r e t h a n o l . B i o b u t a n o l ’ s a dv a n t a g e s o v e r e t h a n o l w i l l b e c o m e m o r e o b v i o u s i n t h e ye a r s a h e a d : I t s e n e r g y c o n t e n t i s closer to that of gasoline, it is less corrosive, and it can be d e l i v e r e d a n d d i s p e n s e d u s i n g c u r r e n t in f r a s t r u c t u r e . — D e r o n L o v a a s , “ G o i n g G re e n b y E m p o w e r i n g C h o i c e , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 7 Biodiesel fuels will gain more attention from consumers eager to run their vehicles on something other than oil. Since most c o m m e r c i a l v e h i c l e s ( bu s e s , t r u c k s ) u s e d i e s e l f u e l s , t h e p o t e n t i a l for switching to biodiesel is greater than for gasoline-powered pa s s e n g e r c a r s . O n e p r o m i s i n g s o u r c e f o r b i o f u e l s i s a l g a e , w h i c h c ou l d y i e l d 1 0 t i m e s m o r e o i l pe r a c r e t h a n s o y b e a n s o r c a n o l a a n d provide 30% of all transportation’s needs for biodiesel by 2020. — W i l l T h u r m o n d , “ B i o d i e s e l ’ s B r i g h t F u tu r e , ” J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 7 , p . 2 7 Ocean-current power will likely increase, led by power-hungry c oa s t a l s t a t e s . T i d a l - c u r r e n t t u r b i n e s a n d t i d a l - s t r e a m t u r b i n e s t a p p i n g t h e p o w e r o f s e a s y s t e m s l i k e t h e G u lf S t r e a m c ou l d provide energy for power-hungry states such as Florida. Energy u se i n F l o r i d a w i l l g o u p n e a r l y 3 0 % in t h e n e x t d e c a d e a s a r e s u l t o f g r o w t h . R e s e a r c h e r s f r o m F l o r i d a S ta t e U n iv e r s i t y h a v e r e c e iv e d a $5 million grant to see how the Gulf Stream, which flows at
  • 583. 583 1 , 0 0 0 t i m e s t h e r a t e o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r , m i g h t b e t a p pe d f o r power. — World Trends & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2007, p. 8 A m b i e n t e n e r g y — i . e . v i b r a t i o n s in t h e s u r r o u n d i n g e n v i r o n m e n t — c ou l d p r o v i d e p o w e r f o r n a n o d e v i c e s . T i n y t o o l s n e e d m o t o r s t o keep them running, but conventional power sources such as b a t t e r i e s a re t o o b i g a n d e v e n t u a l l y l o s e c ha r g e . I n t h e f u t u r e , nanodevices could use zinc oxide nanowires that draw energy from v i b r a t i o n s — s u c h a s f r o m t h e f l o w o f b l o o d o r u l t r a s o n i c wa v e s — t o p r o d u c e t h e e le c t r i c a l c h a r g e s n e e d e d t o ke e p t h e m o p e r a t i n g . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 “ T a c t i c a l b i o r e f i n e r i e s ” w i l l t u r n g a r b a g e i n t o f u e l. A p o r t a b l e g e n e r a t o r d e v e l o p e d f o r m i l i t a r y a p p l ic a t i o n s c a n t u r n f o o d , pa p e r , p la s t i c , a n d o t h e r t r a s h i n t o e le c t r i c i t y . N o t o n l y w i l l t h i s h e l p troops stay mobile, but it will also increase their security by eliminating telltale information in a unit’s waste. — Tomorrow in Brief, May-June 2007, p. 2 The number of vehicles on the world’s roads will grow from 800 m i l l i o n n o w t o 1 . 1 b i l l i o n in 1 5 y e a r s . A s o i l s u p p l i e s p e a k , a variety of alternative energy options could be pursued, which would not only keep cars running, but also reduce the e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s . O p t i o n s in c l u d e f u e l c e l l s , b i o d i e s e l f u e l s ,
  • 584. 584 a n d h y b r i d v e h i c l e s ( f u l l , m i l d , l i g h t , a n d p lu g - i n s ) . — E l i z a b e t h L o w e r y , “ E n e r g y D i v e r s i t y a s a B u s i n e s s I m pe r a t i v e , ” J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 3 H y d r o g e n c ou l d b e p r o d u c e d o n d e m a n d f o r f u e l c e l l s . R e s e a r c h e r s have discovered that hydrogen can be produced spontaneously when water is added to an aluminum and gallium alloy. Since the h y d r o g e n c a n b e p r o d u c e d a s n e e d e d , i t c a n h e l p m a ke t h e s w i t c h f r o m g a s o l i n e t o f u e l c e l l s f o r s m a l l in t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e s l i k e l a w n m o w e r s . — T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 7 , p . 2 ENVIRONMENT T h e e a r t h i s o n t h e v e r g e o f a s i g n i f i c a n t s p e c i e s e x t in c t i o n e v e n t . The twenty-first century could witness a biodiversity collapse 100 to 1,000 times greater than any previous extinction since the dawn of humanity, according to the World Resources Institute. Protecting biodiversity in a time of increased resource consumption, overpopulation, and environmental degradation will require continued sacrifice on the part of local, often impoverished communities. Experts c on t e n d that incorporating local c o m m u n i t i e s ’ e c o n o m i c i n t e r e s t s i n t o c on s e r v a t i o n p l a n s w i l l b e e s s e n t i a l t o s p e c i e s p r o t e c t i o n in t h e n e x t c e n t u r y . — W o r l d T r e n d s & Forecasts, Nov-Dec 2006, p. 6
  • 585. 585 The Arctic will feel the impacts of climate change more severely t h a n t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d . Av e r a g e t e m p e r a t u r e s i n t h e A r c t i c h a v e r i s e n a t a b o u t t w i c e t h e r a t e o f t h e r e s t o f t h e p la n e t . Ra p i d l y retreating sea ice and glaciers, eroding coasts, and thawing pe r m a f r o s t a r e a m o n g t h e m a j o r e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s t h e A r c t i c f a c e s i n t h e d e c a d e s a he a d . A s g l o b a l w a r m i n g a c c e le r a t e s i n p o l a r r e g i o n s , t h e A r c t i c O c e a n c o u l d b e t e m p o r a r i l y i c e - f re e during the summer of 2040. — Lawson W. Brigham, “Thinking a b o u t t h e A r c t i c ’ s F u t u r e : S c e n a r i o s f o r 2 0 4 0 , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 7 , p . 2 7 F a c t o r i e s w i l l b o t h p r o d u c e a n d c a p tu r e m o r e c a r b o n d i o x i d e . Worldwide, factories and other stationary sources emit 7 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year, a number that may i n c r e a s e i n c o m i n g y e a r s . O n e c re a t i v e s o l u t i o n h a s b e e n d e v e l o p e d b y a U . K . c he m i c a l c o m p a n y , T e r r a N i t r o g e n , w h i c h p u m p s i t s greenhouse gases into a nearby greenhouse fully planted with t o m a t o e s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 6 , p . 7 Carbon-dioxide emissions c ou l d reduce the earth’s outer atmosphere by 3% by 2017. The thinning atmosphere could mean t h a t s a t e l l i t e s i n l o w E a r t h o r b i t w o u l d h a v e le s s r e s i s t a n c e a n d c ou l d s t a y i n o p e r a t i o n l o n g e r , a c c o r d i n g t o a g r o u p o f r e s e a r c h e r s
  • 586. 586 from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. — Tomorrow i n B r i e f , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 T h e S o u t h e r n O c e a n m a y b e s l o w i n g g l o b a l w a r m i n g . O c e a n wa t e r s around Antarctica may be absorbing more CO2 than thought, as w e s t e r l y w i n d s c o n t i n u e a 3 0 - ye a r t r e n d o f s h i f t i n g t o w a r d t h e p o l e (carrying the North’s emissions with them). While this may mean a slower rate of global warming than once thought, the changes in o c e a n c h e m i s t r y c ou l d d a m a g e h a b i t a t s a n d ma r i n e o r g a n i s m s . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 Today’s acid oceans may threaten tomorrow’s shellfish. The calcification (shell formation) process of shellfish is slowing down as oceans absorb more carbon dioxide and become more acidic. By 2 1 0 0 , m u s s e l s w i l l b e 2 5 % s l o w e r in t h e i r s h e l l - b u i l d i n g p r o c e s s . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 The number of Africans imperiled by floods will grow 70-fold by 2080. Rapid urbanization and growing poverty make floods pa r t i c u l a r l y d a n g e r o u s , a l t e r i n g t h e n a tu r a l f l o w o f w a t e r a n d c u t t i n g o f f e sc a p e r o u t e s . I f g l o b a l s e a l e v e l s r i s e b y t h e p r e d i c t e d 3 8 c m b y 2 0 8 0 , t h e n u m b e r o f Af r i c a n s a f f e c t e d b y f l o o d s w i l l g r o w f r o m 1 m i l l i o n t o 7 0 m i l l i o n . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - Aug 2007, p. 7
  • 587. 587 The U.K. intends to build all-green housing exclusively by 2016. S ma l l e r h o u s e h o l d s — f e w e r pe o p l e s h a r i n g l i v in g q u a r t e r s — means bigger demand for housing and hence greater environmental impacts: currently 1.5 tons of greenhouse-gas emissions per year in a typical home. The U.K. government has proposed that all newly constructed homes be non-fluorocarbon-emitting by 2016, with i m p r o v e m e n t s i n h e a t i n g e f f i c ie n c y, l i g h t i n g , a n d i n s u la t i o n . — World Trends & Forecasts, July-Aug 2007, p. 7 N e w m a t e r i a l s t h a t r e gu l a t e t h e i r o w n t e m p e r a tu r e c o u l d c u t energy costs. A “thin film” composed of dissimilar semiconductors c ou l d o n e d a y a l l o w f o r r a d i a n t h e a t w a l l s o r s e lf - c o o l i n g w i n d o w s . I n t h e a v e r a g e U . S . h o m e , h e a t i n g a n d c o o l i n g a re t h e l a r g e s t c o n s u m e r s o f e n e r g y , a c c ou n t i n g f o r 5 0 % o f h o u s e h o l d e n e r g y u se , r o u g h l y $ 9 5 0 p e r h o u s e h o l d pe r y e a r . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , Nov-Dec 2006, p. 11 HEALTH AND MEDICINE An osteoporosis epidemic will hit the United States in the next 10 y e a r s . A b o u t 1 0 m i l l i o n p e o p l e h a v e o s t e o p o r o s i s i n t h e Un i t e d S ta t e s a n d 3 4 m i l l i o n h a v e o s t e o p e n i a , a p r e c u r s o r t o o s t e o p o r o s i s . T h e s e n u m b e r s a re p r o j e c t e d t o i n c r e a s e t o 1 4 a n d 4 7 m i l l i o n
  • 588. 588 r e s p e c t i v e l y b y 2 0 2 0 . M o r e r e p la c e m e n t pa r t s — s m a l l b o n e s , wrists, and even spinal disks — will be on the market, but the surgery for their implant and subsequent c a re will remain e x p e n s i v e . — J a y He r s o n , “ T h e C o m i n g O s t e o p o r o s i s E p i d e m i c , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 7 , p. 3 2 D o c t o r s w i l l u s e s o n a r t o d e t e c t b o n e f r a c tu r e s . T i n y c r a c k s f o r m w h e n c o l l a g e n f i b e r s i n b o n e s f a i l ; t h e c ra c k i n g p r o d u c e s s o u n d w a v e s , m u c h l i k e t h e s o u n d wa v e s t h a t o c c u r d u r i n g a n e a r t h q u a k e . R e s e a r c h e r s a t P u r d u e U n iv e r s i t y a r e n o w t r y i n g t o a p p l y t h e s a m e s o u n d - w a v e t e c h n o l o g y u s e d t o d e t e c t f r a c tu r e s in b r i d g e s t o f in d t h e e a r l y s i g n s o f b o n e f ra c t u r e s . — T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , J a n - Fe b 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 E l e c t r o n i c a l l y e n h a n c e d b r a i n s w i l l m a ke n e w s e n s o r y e x p e r i e n c e s p o s s i b l e . A s r e s e a r c h e r s b e t t e r u n de r s t a n d t h e n e u r a l p r o c e s s e s that produce perceptions, such as the mixing of light allowing us to see colors, they may be able to design new neural structures that w o u l d a l l o w u s t o p e rc e i v e m i l l i o n s o f c o l o r s r a t h e r t h a n j u s t f ou r primary colors. — William Holmes, “Expanding the Human Mind: T h e F u t u r e o f t h e B r a i n , ” J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 7 , p . 4 6 R e pa i r i n g i n j u r i e s t o t h e n e r v o u s s y s t e m w i l l m a k e s i g n i f ic a n t progress in the next 10 years. Researchers in neuroanatomy will
  • 589. 589 l e a r n h o w t o s t i m u l a t e c e l l d i v i s i o n t o r e p la c e n e u r o n s , a s w e l l a s grow more complicated neural structures. Neurons will be i n t e rf a c e d w i t h e l e c t r o n i c c i rc u i t s t o c r e a t e a “ b i o n i c m a n ” w i t h m o r e p o r t a b l e a n d le s s o b t r u s i v e b i o n i c pa c ka g e s . — H o l m e s , p. 4 4 R o b o t s w i l l a s s i s t s u r g e o n s r a t h e r t h a n r e p la c e t h e m i n t h e operating room. In the f u tu r e , surgeons will use robotic instruments and wireless search-engine technology as readily as they use any other tool. These enhancements will enable them to f e e l a n d v i s u a l i z e t h e a r e a o f s u r g e r y m o r e f u l l y w h i l e pe r f o r m i n g delicate, life-or-death procedures. — World Trends & Forecasts, M a r - A p r 2 0 0 7 , p. 7 C o c o a c ou l d b e c o m e t h e n e x t “ m i r a c l e d r u g ” — o r a t l e a s t a v i t a l f o o d s u p p l e m e n t . R e s e a r c h e r s h a v e f o u n d t h a t h i g h c on s u m p t i o n o f c oc o a c a n h e l p r e d u c e r i s k o f d e a t h f r o m h e a r t d i s e a s e a n d c a n c e r . T h e a c t i v e i n g r e d i e n t i n n a tu r a l c oc o a , e p i c a t e c h i n , h e l p s b l o o d v e s s e l s r e l a x a n d t h u s i m p r o v e s b l o o d f l o w . T h i s c ou l d h e l p improve cardiovascular health as well as reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. — World Trends & Forecasts, July- Aug 2007, p. 11 RESOURCES
  • 590. 590 Rising prices for natural resources could lead to a full-scale rush t o d e v e l o p t h e A r c t i c . N o t j u s t o i l a n d n a tu r a l g a s , b u t a l s o t h e A r c t i c ’ s s u p p l i e s o f n i c k e l , c o p p e r , z i n c , c o a l , f re s h w a t e r , f o r e s t s , a n d o f c o u r s e f i s h a r e h i g h l y c ov e t e d b y t h e g l o b a l e c o n o m y . Whether the Arctic states tighten control over these commodities o r f i n d e qu i t a b l e a n d s u s t a i n a b l e w a y s t o s h a r e t h e m w i l l b e a m a j o r p o l i t i c a l c h a l l e n g e in t h e d e c a d e s a h e a d . — L a w s o n W . B r i g h a m , “ T h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e A r c t i c ’ s F u tu r e : S c e n a r i o s f o r 2 0 4 0 , ” Sep-Oct 2007, p. 27 A t o t a l , b u t t e m p o r a r y , c o l l a p s e in t h e g l o b a l f i s h i n g i n d u s t r y w i l l occur before the year 2050. Overfishing will result in a collapse in major fishing stocks before the middle of the century. Fish p o p u la t i o n s c a n , h o w e v e r , r e c o v e r f r o m o v e r f i s h i n g . F o r i n s t a n c e , the Norwegian spring-spawning herring collapsed during the 1970s, but thanks to a successful management p o l i c y, the s u s t a i n a b l e f i s h i n g s t o c k o f t h e s p e c ie s w i l l s o o n r i s e t o 1 . 3 m e t r i c tons a year. — World Trends & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2007, p. 9 Water will be in the twenty-first century what oil was in the twentieth century. Global water shortages and drought conditions a re s p r e a d i n g i n b o t h t h e d e v e l o p e d a n d t h e d e v e l o p i n g w o r l d s . I n r e s p o n s e , t h e d r y s t a t e o f Ca l i f o r n i a i s b u i l d i n g 1 3 d e s a l i n a t i o n p la n t s t h a t c o u l d p r o v i d e 1 0 — 2 0 % o f t h e s t a t e ’ s w a t e r in t h e n e x t
  • 591. 591 two decades. Desalination will become more mainstream by 2020. — William E. Halal, “Technology’s Promise: Highlights from the TechCast Project,” Nov-Dec 2006, p. 44 S OC I E T Y A N D V A L U E S “Privateness” will become passé. The spread of surveillance t e c h n o l o g y a n d t h e r i s e o f W e b s i t e s l i k e Y o u T u b e , w h i c h r e c e iv e s more than 65,000 video uploads daily, are driving a trend toward c y b e r - e x h i b i t i o n i s m . “ T h e r e i s d e f i n i t e l y a t r e n d u n de r w a y , ” s a y s sociologist Amitai Etzioni. “People have become very willing to disclose things about themselves for a number of reasons…. I w o u l d n ’ t c a l l i t a t r e n d a wa y f r o m p r i v a c y s o m u c h a s a w a y f r o m privateness.” — World Trends & Forecasts, Nov-Dec 2006, p. 10 V i r t u a l e du c a t i o n w i l l e n t e r t h e m a in s t r e a m b y 2 0 1 5 . O n l y 1 0 % o f higher education is now conducted online. E-training accounts for 30% of corporate training, however, and will likely exceed 50% s o o n . T he f a c t t h a t 1 0 0 m i l l i o n A me r i c a n s a r e t a k i n g c o n t i n u i n g e du c a t i o n s u g g e s t s a h e a l t h y a n d g r o w i n g m a r k e t f o r o n l i n e c o l l e g e c ou r s e s . — W i l l i a m E . H a la l , “ T e c h n o l o g y ’ s P r o m i s e : H i g h l i g h t s from the TechCast Project,” Nov-Dec 2006, p. 46
  • 592. 592 Roughly 30% of the world population will have access to telephones, TV, Internet, and other forms of IT by 2016. This low number represents the ongoing challenge of bringing modern communications and media to poor nations, but also represents the growing potential of wireless IT to help the world’s poor better c o n n e c t w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e g l o b e . — Ha l a l , p. 4 5 Hu m a n k n o w l e d g e c a p a b i l i t y w i l l c on t i n u e t o d o u b l e e v e r y y e a r . “Human knowledge c a pa b i l i t y ” is the quantity of a v a i la b l e knowledge multiplied by the power of technology to process that k n o w l e d g e . T h i s c a p a b i l i t y w i l l in c r e a s e b y t w o t o t h e p o w e r o f 1 0 0 , t h e e qu i v a l e n t o f a t h o u s a n d b i l l i o n b i l l i o n , in t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y . — J a m e s M a r t i n , “ T h e 1 7 G re a t C h a l le n g e s o f t h e T we n t y - F i r s t C e n t u r y , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 4 T e c h n o l o g y w i l l l e a d t o e d u c a t e d i l l i t e r a t e s . W h e n w i d e l y u se d a n d effective voice-recognition software replaces the keyboard, we will b e w e l l o n o u r wa y t o w a r d a w o r l d i n w h i c h t r a d i t i o n a l c on c e p t s o f literacy are no longer applicable. Education will shift from teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic and toward encouraging c re a t i v i t y , i m a g i n a t i o n , a n d c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g . — P e t e r W a g s c h a l , “Illiterates with Doctorates, Revisited,” Mar-Apr 2007, p. 28
  • 593. 593 More people will age and die alone. Growing numbers of elderly pe o p l e in Japan and the United S ta t e s face death without i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y m e m b e r s o r f r i e n d s t o p r o v i d e c a re i n t h e i r l a s t days. New government, private, and v o lu n t e e r services are e me r g i n g t o m e e t t h e n e e d s i n c re a t i v e a n d c o m f o r t i n g wa y s , s u c h as collecting bodies and arranging burial ceremonies. — Arthur B. Shostak, “Japan’s Approach to Aging and Dying,” Sep-Oct 2007, p. 8 More young Americans, especially men, will delay or opt out of joining the labor force. Though American men still outnumber (and o u t - e a r n ) t h e i r f e m a le c o u n t e r pa r t s , m a l e pa r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e w o r k f o r c e i s o n a s t e a d y d e c l in e . B y 2 0 2 0 , o n l y 7 0 % o f w o r k i n g - a g e m e n w i l l b e w o r k i n g , a n d b y 2 0 5 0, o n l y 6 6 % . R e a s o n s i n c l u d e m o r e time spent in school and taking time off instead of waiting until retirement to enjoy life, says Harvard Un i v e r s i t y economist C la u d i a G o l d i n . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p . 8 Communications systems a re altering human behavior. The constant availability of media invites abuse, says journalism p r o f e s s o r M i c h a e l B u ge j a . P e o p l e w i t h w i d e a c c e s s t o l a p t o p c o m p u t e r s o r c e l l p h o n e s a re m o r e l i ke l y t o u se t h o s e d e v i c e s a t inappropriate times and at inappropriate moments, such as logging o n t o n e t w o r k i n g s i t e s d u r i n g a u n iv e r s i t y le c t u r e . A s s u c h t e c h n o -
  • 594. 594 a bu s e s b e c o m e c o m m o n p l a c e t h e y a l s o b e c o m e m o r e a c c e p t a b l e . T h e e n d r e s u l t i s a m o r e d i s t r a c t e d w o r l d . — W o r l d T re n d s & Forecasts, Jan-Feb 2007, p. 12 A r t i s t s o f t h e f u tu r e w i l l b e c o m e m o r e m a r k e t - d r i v e n . Y o u n g pa i n t e r s , d a n c e r s , a n d a c t o r s f re s h f r o m g r a d u a t e s c h o o l p r o b a b l y won’t have the support systems that many of their predecessors enjoyed, despite forecasts that demand in the arts will grow as fast as for all other occupations through 2014. Competition for both salaried and freelance jobs will intensify as aspiring artists with m a s t e r o f f i n e a r t s d e g r e e s w i l l v a s t l y o u t n u m b e r t h e pa y i n g j o b s available. — World Trends & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2007, p. 17 TECHNOLOGY Qu a n t u m c o m p u t e r s w i l l a r r i v e b y 2 0 2 1 . C o m p u t e r s t h a t u s e s p i n n in g e l e c t r o n s ra t h e r t h a n s i l i c o n - b a s e d c h i p s t o p r o c e s s d a t a c o u l d d o in s e c o n d s w h a t w o u l d t a ke a m o d e r n c o m pu t e r b i l l i o n s o f y e a r s , r a i s i n g t h e p r o s p e c t o f i n f i n i t e processing power by the ye a r 2020. — William E. H a la l , “Technology’s Promise: Highlights from the TechCast Project,” Nov-Dec 2006, p. 45
  • 595. 595 M o s t s e c u r i t y s y s t e m s w i l l u s e b i o m e t r i c s b y 2 0 1 0 . G ov e r n m e n t s a n d c o r p o r a t i o n s a r e u s i n g f in g e r p r i n t s , h a n d g e o m e t r y , t h e i r i s , voice, and facial features in a growing number of identity v e r i f i c a t i o n s y s t e m s , w i t h f i n g e r p r i n t s m a k in g u p 6 7 % o f t h e s e a p p l i c a t i o n s . — H a la l , p . 4 4 Protecting privacy will become a growing challenge due to new t e c h n o l o g i e s . A w i r e l e s s d e v ic e in y o u r s h o e s t o r e c o r d y o u r m i l e s w h i l e j o g g i n g c o u l d b e tu r n e d i n t o a s t a l k e r ’ s h a n d y t r a c k i n g device. And cameras have become small enough to be disguised as s h i r t b u t t o n s t o i n v a d e pe o p l e ’ s p r i v a c y o n t h e s l y . E n g i n e e r s a re scrambling to counter that trend with privacy protection devices, such as a light-absorbing capacitor that blocks the signals of d i g i t a l c a me r a s . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p p . 12, 13 Virtual immortality may soon b e a c h ie v e d . V a s t l y i m p r o v i n g information storage and processing and sophisticated virtual- reality graphics already c re a t e nearly l if e l i k e experiences. R e s e a r c h e r s n o w h o p e t o c o m b i n e a r t i f ic i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e i n t o t h e mix. People’s appearance, mannerisms, voice, and even their knowledge and experience may one day be digitized, creating a virtual person that would preserve much of our personalities for e te r n i t y . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 7 , p . 1 2
  • 596. 596 T h e p o w e r t o m a k e t h i n g s i n v i s i b l e ma y s o o n b e a t h a n d . “ O p t i c a l cloaking” is a way of bending light around an object so that it d i s a p p e a r s f r o m v i e w . R e s e a r c h e r s h a v e b e e n a b l e t o a c h ie v e rudimentary cloaking of objects at single wavelengths—rendering the object invisible if it is far away and remains perfectly still. C l o s e - u p i n v i s i b i l i t y w i l l n o t l i k e l y b e a c h ie v e d f o r m o r e t h a n a d e c a d e , b u t c ou l d b e u s e d t o m a ke s o l d i e r s i n v i s i b l e t o n i g h t - v i s i o n goggles, among other applications. — World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2007, p. 14 Decisions will increasingly be made by nonhuman entities. E l e c t r o n i c a l l y e n a b l e d t e a m s in n e t w o r k s , r o b o t s w i t h a r t i f ic i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e , a n d o t h e r n o n c a r b o n l if e - f o r m s w i l l m a k e f i n a n c ia l , health, educational, and even political decisions for us. Reason: T e c h n o l o g i e s a r e i n c r e a s i n g t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f o u r l iv e s a n d h u m a n w o r k e r s ’ c o m p e t e n c y i s n o t ke e p i n g pa c e w e l l e n o u g h t o a v o i d d i s a s t e r s d u e t o h u m a n e r r o r . — A r n o l d B r o w n , “ ‘ N o t w i t h a B a n g’ : Civilization’s Accelerating Challenge,” Sep-Oct 2007, p. 38 A r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e w i l l e v o lv e f r o m r o u g h l y m i m i c k i n g h u m a n intelligence to vastly surpassing it. Ultimately, “hyperhuman” artificial intelligence will rise, with sentience that is as i n t e l le c t u a l l y p r o d u c t i v e a n d c a p a b l e a s t h e e n t i r e h u m a n r a c e ,
  • 597. 597 a c c o r d i n g t o J . S t o r r s Ha l l , a u t h o r o f B e y o n d AI : C r e a t i n g t h e C o n s c i e n c e o f t h e M a c h i n e . — P a t r i c k T u c k e r , “ T h e A r t i f ic i a l M i n d ” [ b o o k r e v i e w] , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 7 , p . 5 5 WORLD AFFAIRS W a r s ma y l o o k l e s s l i k e w a r s , a s e n e m i e s d e p l o y n o n m i l i t a r y s t r a t e g i e s a g a i n s t o n e a n o t h e r . W a r w i l l e v o l v e a wa y f r o m c l a s h e s b e t w e e n r e c o g n i z a b l e a r m i e s , a n d la r g e - s c a le c o l le c t i v e v i o l e n c e will eventually be eschewed for its ultimate ineffectiveness. As a result, nonmilitary instruments of power (such as the strategic m a n a g e m e n t o f pe r c e p t i o n s a n d u s e o f m o r a l a u t h o r i t y ) w i l l b e c o m e t h e n o r m . — G r e g o r y D . F o s t e r , “ S t r a t e g y a n d t h e S e a rc h for Peace,” Nov-Dec 2006, p. 19 The “two-front” war has been replaced by the “multicentric” threat. Global structures are no longer distinguished by a state-centric system of sovereign nations. Rather, a varied array of other actors, individuals, and organizations on the global stage exercise authority over their own domain. As a result, the challenge of p r e pa r i n g f o r a t w o - f r o n t wa r h a s b e e n r e p l a c e d b y t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i n n u m e ra b l e f r o n t s d e v e l o p i n g s i m u l t a n e o u s l y in a n y a n d e v e r y pa r t o f t h e w o r l d . — J a m e s N . R o s e n a u , “ S t r a t e g i z i n g in a C o m p l e x a n d D i s a g g r e g a t e d W o r l d , ” N o v - De c 2 0 0 6 , p . 2 5
  • 598. 598 Terrorist events will become more common and more deadly. Jihadists (Muslim extremists) will likely acquire nuclear weapons w i t h i n t h e n e x t 1 0 y e a r s , a n d a l - Qa e d a w i l l g r o w la r g e r a n d m o r e dangerous. Terrorists a re also likely to rise to power in governments as they buy loyalty to their cause through improved s e r v i c e s . — M a r v i n J . C e t r o n , “ De f e a t i n g T e r r o r i s m : I s I t P o s s i b l e ? I s I t P r o b a b l e ? ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p p. 1 9 , 2 3 The Middle East could face all-out war for the next three decades a f t e r w i t h d r a w a l o f U . S . a n d a l l ie d t r o o p s f r o m t h e r e g i o n . B u t pe a c e c o u l d r e i g n e l s e w h e r e : M a n y j i h a d i s t t e r r o r i s t s m i g h t t u r n their attention away from Western enemies and toward battling e a c h o t h e r . — M a r v i n J . Ce t r o n a n d O w e n Da v i e s , “ W o r s t - Ca s e Scenario: The Middle East,” Sep-Oct 2007, p. 20 A n e w e ra o f n u c l e a r p r o l i f e r a t i o n ma y e m e r g e i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t . Israel has already admitted to possessing nuclear weapons. The most immediate nuclear threat currently is Pakistan, but Iran is a l s o w o r k i n g t o w a r d n u c l e a r we a p o n c a p a b i l i t y . E s t i m a t e s ra n g e from two to 10 years for completion of the first Iranian nuclear weapon. — Cetron and Davies, pp. 18, 21 The threat of another cold war with China, Russia, or both will r e p la c e t e r r o r i s m a s t h e c h ie f f o r e i g n - p o l i c y c o n c e r n o f t h e Un i t e d
  • 599. 599 S ta t e s . S c e n a r i o s f o r w h a t a w a r w i t h C h i n a o r R u s s i a w o u l d l o o k l i k e m a k e t h e c la s h e s a n d wa r s i n w h i c h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i s n o w involved seem insignificant. The power of radical jihadists is t r i v i a l c o m p a r e d w i t h S ov i e t m i s s i l e c a p a b i l i t i e s , f o r i n s t a n c e . T he f oc u s o f U . S . f o r e i g n p o l i c y s h o u l d t h u s b e o n p r e v e n t i n g a n engagement among Great Powers. — Edward N. Luttwak, “ P r e s e r v i n g B a la n c e a m o n g t h e G r e a t P o w e r s , ” N o v - De c 2 0 0 6 , p. 26 The globalization of the arms industry will continue to help a bu s i v e g o v e r n m e n t s f l o u t i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r m s c o n t r o l t r e a t i e s . U . S . European, and Canadian arms manufacturers circumvent many arms control regulations by subcontracting the manufacture of w e a p o n s t o c o u n t r i e s l i k e E g y p t , C h i n a , a n d T u r ke y . M a n u f a c t u r e d w e a p o n s h a v e i n t u r n f ou n d t h e i r w a y t o s u c h d e s t i n a t i o n s a s S u d a n o r C o l o m b i a , w h e r e t h e y a re u s e d t o k i l l o r d i s p l a c e civilians. The trend toward subcontracting weapons manufacture w i l l l i k e l y c o n t i n u e a s i t i s f u e l e d b y a r i s e in m i l i t a r y bu d g e t s a c r o s s t h e g l o b e . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 7 , p . 1 3 F u t u r e F a s h i o n s : C l o t h e s T ha t M a k e t h e Fu t u r i s t
  • 600. 600 T o p r e p a r e f o r a n y j o u r n e y, w e l i k e t o k n o w w h a t we ’ l l w e a r . S o here’s what fashionable futurists (or future fashionistas) will be pa c k i n g f o r t h e r o a d a he a d : Ou t f i t s a n d a c c e s s o r i e s t h a t a r e s m a r t , s e n s i t i v e , a n d s w e e t ( o r stinky): Researchers in smart fabrics and intelligent textiles ( S F I T ) a re w o r k i n g w i t h t h e f a s h i o n in d u s t r y t o b r i n g u s c o l o r — c ha n g i n g j e a n s , e v e n i n g w e a r t h a t e m i t s d i f f e r e n t s c e n t s a s t h e mood alters, undergarments that monitor our vital signs, and b u i l t - i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s n e t w o r k s t h a t c ou l d k e e p u s s a f e r . — P a t r i c k T u c k e r , “ S m a r t F a s h i o n , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 7 , p . 6 8 P e t r o l e u m - f re e c l o t h i n g : S y n t h e t i c f a b r i c s w i l l b e ma d e u s i n g organic sources such as corn, rice, sugarcane residue, and grasses rather than petroleum. The fabric will also be biodegradable. — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 N a n o c o s m e t i c s : N a n o — e n g i n e e r e d p a r t i c l e s c o u l d pa c k m o r e pu n c h in tomorrow’s cosmetics bags, adding bug repellants, sunscreens, antibacterial properties, and other useful features to our blushes and skin creams. But critics warn that the widespread u se o f c a r b o n f u l l e r e n e s ( b u c k y b a l l s ) in s u c h p r o d u c t s m a y p o s e dangerous environmental and health risks. — World Trends & Forecasts, July-Aug 2007, p. 8
  • 601. 601 Dissolvable dresses: Fabrics made with clear polymers that break d o w n s l o w l y u n d e r n o r m a l w e a r w i l l d i s s o l v e q u ic k l y w h e n d r o p p e d i n t o h o t w a t e r . O n c e o u t o f f a s h i o n , y o u r c l o t h e s c ou l d b e l i qu e f ie d r a t h e r t h a n t h r o w n i n t o o v e rf l o w i n g la n d f i l l s . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 7 , p. 2 W i r e l e s s r u n n i n g s h o e s t h a t r e c o r d y ou r s t e p s : T h e N i k e + i P o d h a s a r e c e i v e r t h a t m e a s u r e s y o u r s p e e d a n d d i s t a n c e a n d p la y s y o u r f a v o r i t e t u n e s w h i l e y o u j o g . ( B e c a re f u l , t h o u g h ! S o m e o n e e l s e m a y b e s p y i n g o n y o u . S e e p. 8 . ) — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , May-June 2007, p. 12 W r i s t w a t c h c a s h c a r d : S t o r e a f e w e x t r a b u c k s in a “ c a s h l e s s w a l le t ” e m b e d d e d i n y o u r w r i s t w a t c h . B u y a c a n o f s o d a o r s u b w a y t i c k e t w i t h a s i m p l e w a v e o f y o u r h a n d . — A l l e n H . Ku p e t z , “ O u r C a s h l e s s F u t u r e , ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 7 , p. 3 8 H o w t o B e H a p py “ U t o p i a ” m a y n e v e r t u r n o u t t o b e t h e v i l l a g e o f h a p p y n ic e pe o p l e t h a t d r e a m e r s i m a g i n e , bu t e c o n o m i s t s , s o c i o l o g i s t s , p s y c h o l o g i s t s , a n d o t h e r s s t u d y i n g t h e pu r s u i t o f h a p p i n e s s d o o f f e r w a y s t h a t w e can better understand it and work toward a happier future.
  • 602. 602 N e w t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l le t p e o p l e c u s t o m i z e t h e i r o w n v e r s i o n s o f “utopia.” Artificial worlds created in Massively Multiplayer Online R o l e P l a y i n g G a m e s ( M M O R P G s ) a l l o w p l a ye r s t o in d u l g e in n e w identities and activities that may not be possible or acceptable in r e a l l i f e . T h i s c o u l d p r o v i d e a p s y c h o l o g i c a l s a f e t y v a lv e t h a t w o u l d let people vent their aggression without hurting others. — Lane J e n n i n g s , “ R e i n v e n t i n g U t o p i a , ” J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 7 , p. 3 6 M o r e p e o p l e c ou l d f i n d t e m p o r a r y h a p p i n e s s i n “ F r e e Z o n e s , ” m u c h l i k e M a r d i G r a s i n N e w O r l e a n s o r C a r n iv a l i n R i o . S e l f - i n d u l g e n c e a t b a r s , s t r i p c l u b s , c a s i n o s , a n d a mu s e m e n t p a r k s m i g h t b e expanded into places where patrons could use mind-altering drugs o r e n g a g e i n o t h e r r i s k y a c t iv i t i e s w h i l e c a r e f u l l y m o n i t o r e d . — J e n n i n g s , p. 3 6 M a r k e t i n g e x p e r i e n c e s r a t h e r t h a n m a t e r i a l g o o d s c ou l d i n c r e a s e happiness. A psychologist recommends that consumers spend their money more on experiences, such as family vacations. The memories created last longer than the “stuff” we buy and can be m e n ta l l y e d i t e d t o e l i m i n a t e t h e b a d e x p e r i e n c e s . E x p e r i e n c e s a l s o c a n h e l p i n d i v i d u a l s m e e t pe r s o n a l g o a l s , m a k i n g t h e m m o r e interesting, likeable, and happy than materialistic people. — World T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 7 , p. 6
  • 603. 603 A new tool for monitoring happiness will help nations assess their w e l l - b e i n g . S o c i a l p s y c h o l o g i s t s m e a s u r i n g w e a l t h , e du c a t i o n , a n d h e a l t h — t h r e e p r e d i c t o r s o f n a t i o n a l w e l l - b e i n g — f ou n d t h a t c ou n t r i e s w i t h la r g e p o p u l a t i o n s a n d a s t r o n g s e n s e o f c o l l e c t i v e identity (such as China, Japan, and India) tend to have lower l e v e l s o f w e l l - b e i n g t h a n s m a l l e r , m o r e in d i v i d u a l i s t i c c o u n t r i e s ( D e n ma r k , S w i t z e r l a n d) . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 2 G ov e r n m e n t s m a y e n a c t h a p p in e s s - p r o m o t i n g p o l i c i e s . S w e d e n b a n s a dv e r t i s i n g a i m e d a t c h i l d r e n i n o r d e r t o r e du c e c o n s u m e r i s m a s s o c i a t e d w i t h u n ha p p i n e s s . M e n ta l - h e a l t h t r e a t m e n t s u b s i d i z e d b y g o v e r n m e n t c ou l d a l l e v i a t e d e p r e s s i o n a n d h y p e r - a n x i e t y . T a x e s to redistribute extra income to poorer people will also buy more national happiness. — Richard Layard, “Setting Happiness as a N a t i o n a l G oa l , ” J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 7 , p . 3 7 H i g h P r o b a b i l i t y , H i g h I m pa c t T e r r o r i s t T h r e a t s T e r r o r i s t t h r e a t s r a n k e d b y m i l i t a r y a n d in d u s t r y p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d f u t u r i s t s a s h a v i n g t h e h i g h e s t p r o b a b i l i t y i n c lu d e : • Ru m o r s s p r e a d o f a n i m p e n d i n g a t t a c k ( i . e . i n o r d e r t o i n c i t e mass panic).
  • 604. 604 • Attack on Saudi oil production. • General Internet overload. • Terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia blamed on “Zionists.” • Attack on commuter trains into New York City or other major city. • Threats ranked as having the highest potential impact include: • A s u i t c a s e n u c le a r d e v i c e p l a c e d o n a n y ta r g e t . • Attack on the next U.S. presidential inauguration. • Air Force One shot down. • Dirty bomb detonated in a populated area. • 9/ 1 1 s c e n a r i o r e p e a t e d . — Marvin J. Cetron, “Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable?” May-June 2007, p. 20 _______________________________ OUTLOOK 2007 ______________________________ BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS E c o n o m i c d i s p a r i t i e s a r e g r o w i n g . T he r a t i o o f t h e t o t a l i n c o m e o f pe o p l e i n t h e t o p 5 % t o t h o s e i n t h e b o t t o m 5 % h a s g r o w n f r o m 6 t o 1 i n 1 9 8 0 t o m o r e t h a n 2 0 0 t o 1 in 2 0 0 6 . T h e s e d i s p a r i t i e s w i l l
  • 605. 605 continue unless more cooperation occurs between the rich and the p o o r i n a d d r e s s i n g i n e q u a l i t y . — J e r o m e C. G le n n a n d T h e o d o r e J . G o r d o n , “ U p d a t e o n t h e S ta t e o f t h e Fu t u r e , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 1 An estimated 3.3 million service jobs will move out of the United S ta t e s o v e r t h e n e x t 1 0 t o 1 5 y e a r s , a c c o r d i n g t o F o r r e s t e r R e s e a r c h Inc. This trend reflects the pervasive spread of the Internet, d i g i t i z a t i o n , a n d t h e a v a i la b i l i t y o f w h i t e - c o l la r s k i l l s a b r o a d . T h i s shift of high-tech service jobs may be a permanent feature of economic life in the twenty-first century. — John M. Eger, “ B u i l d i n g C re a t i v e C o m m u n i t i e s : T he R o l e o f A r t a n d Cu l t u r e , ” Cu M a r - A p r 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 0 Pharmaceutical manufacturing will migrate to the developing world. By 2040, the pharmaceutical industry will move to d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s w i t h s k i l l e d s c ie n t i f i c l a b o r p o o l s . T h e M i d d l e E a s t m i g h t s h o w a n i n t e r e s t in p r o m o t i n g t h e i n d u s t r y a s t h e s e c ou n t r i e s b e c o m e m o r e d e m o c r a t i z e d a n d a s t h e d e m a n d f o r o i l declines. — Jay Herson, “Innovation in Pharmaceuticals: Speeding Up Development of New Cures,” Jan-Feb 2006, p. 25 T o p i n d u s t r i e s f o r n a n o t e c h n o l o g y b r e a k t h r o u g h s . De v e l o p m e n t o f molecular machinery will be a boon to a wide assortment of i n du s t r i e s . T h e b r i g h t e s t n a n o - f u t u r e s a r e i n m a n u f a c tu r i n g a n d
  • 606. 606 materials, food and agricultural products and packaging, more powerful and efficient computers and electronics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, alternative energy systems, and lu x u r y goods, such as stain-resistant clothing. — World Trends & Forecasts, May-June 2006, p. 15 DEMOGRAPHY Generation Y will migrate heavily overseas. For the first time in its history, the United States will see a significant proportion of its p o p u la t i o n e m i g r a t e d u e t o o v e r s e a s o p p o r t u n i t i e s . Ac c o r d i n g t o f u t u r i s t s A r n o l d B r o w n a n d E d i e W e i n e r , G e n e r a t i o n Y, t h e p o p u la t i o n s e g m e n t b o r n b e t w e e n 1 9 7 8 a n d 1 9 9 5 , m a y b e t h e f i r s t U.S. generation to have many of its members leave the country to pu r s u e l a r g e p o r t i o n s o f t h e i r l iv e s , i f n o t t h e i r e n t i r e a du l t l i v e s , o v e r s e a s . — E d w a r d C o r n i s h , “ P l a n n in g i n a n A g e o f H y p e r c h a n g e ” (book review of FutureThink by Edie Weiner and Arnold Brown), M a r - A p r 2 0 0 6 , p. 6 1 Progress on slowing population growth may reverse. The fight a ga i n s t o v e r p o p u l a t i o n i s n o t o v e r , a n d g l o b a l p o p u l a t i o n i s p r o j e c t e d t o r e a c h b e t w e e n 9 . 5 b i l l i o n a n d 1 2 b i l l i o n if f e r t i l i t y r a t e s d o n o t c o n t i n u e t o d e c l i n e . T h a t p r o j e c t e d t o t a l c ou l d b e lower if more investment is made in family-planning services, sex
  • 607. 607 e du c a t i o n , a n d w o m e n ’ s e du c a t i o n a n d e m p o w e r m e n t , a c c o r d i n g t o e x p e r t s . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 3 C o m p a n i e s w i l l s e e t h e a ge r a n g e o f t h e i r w o r k e r s s p a n f ou r g e n e r a t i o n s . W o r k e r s o v e r t h e a g e o f 5 5 a re e x p e c t e d t o g r o w f r o m 14% of the labor force to 19% by 2012. In less than five years, 77 m i l l i o n b a b y b o o m e r s i n t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s w i l l b e g i n r e a c h i n g a g e 6 5 , t h e t r a d i t i o n a l r e t i r e m e n t a ge . A s a r e s u l t , t h e i d e a o f “ r e t i r e m e n t ” w i l l c h a n g e s i g n i f i c a n t l y . — J o h n A. C h a l l e n g e r , “Working in the Future: How Today’s Trends Are Shaping T o m o r r o w ’ s J o b s , ” N o v - D e c 2 0 0 5, p . 4 8 E d u c a t i o n f o r t h e m i l l e n n i a l g e n e ra t i o n w i l l b e c o m e m o r e p e r s o n a l a n d m o b i l e . M i l le n n i a l - g e n e r a t i o n l e a r n e r s — t h o s e b o r n a f t e r 1992 — are growing up in a mobile, personalized, on-demand media environment that poses challenges to traditional classroom- b o u n d e du c a t o r s . M i l l e n n i a l s a re c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h m u l t i t a s k i n g , which forces their teachers to fight for their time and attention. M i l le n n i a l s a l s o w o r k a n d le a r n m o r e c o l l a b o r a t i v e l y t h a n p r e v i o u s generations, so testing an individual learner’s progress ma y become increasingly difficult. — World Trends & Forecasts, May- J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 7 ENVIRONMENT
  • 608. 608 T h e c o s t s o f g l o b a l - wa r m i n g - r e l a t e d d i s a s t e r s w i l l r e a c h $ 1 5 0 billion per year. The world’s total economic loss from weather- r e la t e d c a ta s t r o p h e s h a s r i s e n 2 5 % i n t h e la s t d e c a d e . Ac c o r d i n g t o the insurance firm Swiss Re, the overall economic cost of c a t a s t r o p h e s r e l a t e d t o c l i ma t e c ha n g e t h r e a t e n s t o d o u b l e t o $ 1 5 0 billion per year in a decade. The insurance industry’s share would be $30— $40 billion annually. However, the size of these estimates a l s o r e f le c t s i n c r e a s e d g r o w t h a n d h i g h e r r e a l - e s t a t e p r i c e s i n c oa s t a l c o m m u n i t i e s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 5 , p. 13 Hu m a n i t y w i l l c o n t i n u e t o p r o d u c e m o r e c a r b o n t h a n o c e a n s o r f o r e s t s c a n n a t u r a l l y a b s o r b . T he c u r r e n t a b s o r p t i o n c a p a c i t y o f c a r b o n b y o c e a n s a n d f o r e s t s i s 3 t o 3 . 5 b i l l i o n t o n s a y e a r , ye t 7 b i l l i o n t o n s a r e a d d e d a n n u a l l y . T h a t f i g u r e c ou l d g r o w t o 1 4 b i l l i o n t o n s p e r y e a r i f c u r r e n t t r e n d s c o n t i n u e . — J e r o m e C. G le n n and Theodore J. Gordon, “Update on the State of the Future,” Jan- Feb 2006, p. 21 Coastal fisheries could disappear in Florida. By 2100, many of the bays and estuaries on Florida’s coast could be lost to floods due to g l o b a l wa r m i n g . A l o n g w i t h t h e s e h a b i t a t s w i l l g o t w o o f t h e s t a t e ’ s
  • 609. 609 most profitable industries — commercial and sport fishing. — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 6 , p . 9 HABITATS More Americans will move to rural areas than will move out. D u r i n g t h e 1 9 9 0 s , t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f n o n m e t r o p o l i t a n c ou n t i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s g r e w b y 5 . 3 m i l l i o n , t o 1 0. 3 % . W h i le t h e m a j o r i t y of this growth occurred in counties near large urban areas, the most rapid increase was (and continues to be) in scenic m o u n t a i n o u s c ou n t i e s o f t h e w e s t e r n Un i t e d S t a t e s . T h e h i g h e s t pe r c e n t a g e o f g r o w t h o f p e o p l e 6 5 o r o l d e r w i l l l i ke l y o c c u r i n t h e mountainous West, followed by the South. — Robert McIntyre, “ N e w V i l l a g e s f o r a N e w E r a , ” J a n - Fe b 2 0 0 6 , p . 3 6 T h e I n t e r n e t w i l l d r a s t i c a l l y c ha n g e l i v in g p a t t e r n s a n d u r b a n p o p u la t i o n s . M o r e p e o p l e w i l l u s e t h e I n t e r n e t t o w o r k r e m o t e l y from scenic locations. In contrast, more corporations will move their headquarters back to major metropolitan cities, to allow m a n a g e m e n t h e a d s t o n e t w o r k w i t h t h e i r g l o b a l p e e r s in b a n k i n g and the media, while nonessential duties are performed elsewhere. — J o e l G a r r e a u , “ T h e S a n t a Fe - i n g o f C iv i l i z a t i o n , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 6 , p. 43
  • 610. 610 By 2025, 75% of U.S. residents will live on the country’s coasts. T h e m i g r a t i o n o f m o r e pe o p l e t o t h e n a t i o n ’ s c o a s t s r a i s e s m a n y concerns—such as the preservation of wetlands, increased housing c o s t s , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n b o t t l e n e c k s , a n d h i g h e r in s u r a n c e l o s s e s d u e to more and more expensive damage from tropical storms and hurricanes. — Edward Cornish, “Planning in an Age of H y pe r c h a n g e ” ( b o o k r e v i e w o f Fu t u r e T h i n k b y E d i e W e i n e r a n d A r n o l d B r o w n ) , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 6 , p. 6 1 S o m e l o c a l i t i e s m a y d i s a p p e a r i n a p o s t - pe t r o l e u m w o r l d . T h e e n d of an oil-based economy c ou l d mean the end of certain communities that rely on petroleum for transportation. Even hybrid vehicles may not come soon enough to save them. Arizona, f o r i n s t a n c e , i s c u r r e n t l y s o a u t o m o b i l e - d e pe n d e n t t h a t , w i t h o u t c h e a p o i l a n d p o w e r , i t s f a r - f lu n g c o m m u n i t i e s m a y f a de a wa y i n 5 0 y e a r s . — M a r k B l y t h , “ W i l l W in d a n d B i o f u e l s B e E n o u g h ? ” July-Aug 2006, p. 28 HEALTH AND MEDICINE Uses of nanotechnology in medicine will increase. Smart drug- delivery systems that release medicines into the body at a precise location could arrive before the end of the decade. Bio-nanotubes d e v e l o p e d a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Ca l i f o r n i a a t S a n t a B a r b a r a r e s p o n d
  • 611. 611 t o e le c t r i c a l c h a r g e s t h a t o c c u r in s i d e t h e b o d y i n o r d e r t o r e l e a s e drug payloads at specific locations. Researchers believe that the chemotherapy drug Taxol is one potential candidate for the smart b i o - n a n o t u b e c a p s u l e s . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , N o v - De c 2 0 0 5, p . 2 By 2030, we will see drugs individualized according to a patient’s g e n o m e . T he s e d r u g s w i l l b e b o t h s a f e a n d e f f e c t i v e , b u t t h e o v e r a l l market will become fragmented du e to i n d i v i d u a l i za t i o n . P h a r m a c e u t i c a l f i r m s m a y f i n d t h e m s e l v e s le s s p r o f i t a b l e o r w i t h l i m i t e d g r o w t h o p p o r t u n i t i e s u n de r t h e s e s c e n a r i o s . I f s o , t h e y m a y diversify into other industries, such as cosmetics, veterinary medicine, clinical laboratories, and industrial a g r i c u l tu r a l chemicals. — Jay Herson, “Innovation in Pharmaceuticals: S p e e d i n g U p D e v e l o p m e n t o f N e w Cu r e s , ” J a n - Fe b 2 0 0 6 , p . 2 9 E m b r y o n i c s t e m c e l l s w i l l h e l p t h e f i g h t a ga i n s t A l z h e i m e r ’ s disease. Scientists in the United Kingdom have succeeded in g r o w i n g b r a i n a n d lu n g t i s s u e f r o m e m b r y o n i c s t e m c e l l s . T h e r e s e a rc h e r s b e l i e v e t h a t t h e n e w t e c h n i q u e f o r g r o w i n g b r a i n t i s s u e w i l l e v e n tu a l l y h e l p d o c t o r s b u i l d r e p l a c e m e n t n e u ra l o r b r a i n matter for people who suffer from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. A 2003 Swedish study estimates that Alzheimer’s disease afflicts 27.7 million people globally. — World Trends & Forecasts, M a r - A p r 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 7
  • 612. 612 Children’s “nature deficit disorder” is a growing health threat. C h i l d r e n t o d a y a re s p e n d i n g l e s s t i m e i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h n a t u r e than did previous generations. The impacts are showing up not only in their lack of physical fitness, but also in the growing p r e v a l e n c e o f h y p e r a c t i v i t y a n d a t t e n t i o n d e f ic i t . S tu d i e s s h o w t h a t i m m e r s i n g c h i l d r e n i n o u t d o o r s e t t i n g s — a w a y f r o m t e le v i s i o n a n d video games — fosters more c re a t i v e mental activity and c o n c e n t r a t i o n . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 3 Look for cell-based computing and microchip-enhanced brains. New research fusing electronic microchips with living brain cells c ou l d o n e d a y l e a d t o c h i p i m p l a n t s t o c o m b a t n e u r o l o g i c a l disorders. Connecting neurons to semiconductors successfully is t h e k e y t o f u tu r e b r e a k t h r o u g h s i n h u m a n — c o m p u t e r s y n t h e s i s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 4 INFORMATION SOCIETY C o m p u t e r s m a y s o o n h a v e a r t i f i c ia l e m p a t h y f o r t h e i r u se r s . Computer scientists are developing ways for machines to sense t h e i r u s e r s ’ m o o d . B o r e d ? D i s t r a c t e d ? F ru s t r a t e d ? A m o r e u s e r - a wa r e c o m p u t e r c o u l d o n e d a y p ic k u p o n y o u r b o d y la n g u a g e , f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s , a n d t o n e o f y o u r v o ic e , t h e n p e r h a p s p u l l u p a
  • 613. 613 soothing photo of your puppy to calm you down if you’re upset. — Tomorrow in Brief, May-June 2006, p. 2 Education will be portable, and learning will be “on-demand.” Education may follow the entertainment-delivery model, allowing customers (learners) to download what they want and use it when they want it. Faculty will increasingly upload lectures and e du c a t i o n a l “ p l a y l i s t s ” t o P o d c a s t i n g s e r v ic e s f o r s t u d e n t s t o a t t e n d a t t h e i r c o n v e n i e n c e . — T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 I n t e r n e t w i l l i n c r e a s e n e e d f o r s o c i a l c o n n e c t i o n s . N e w m e n ta l illnesses such as “digital depression” and “connected aloneness” a re o n t h e r i s e a s p e o p l e s p e n d m o r e t i m e e n g a g i n g v i r t u a l l y w i t h others through the Internet and cell phones rather than face-to- face. Future products and services that enhance personal experiences and life enrichment could help meet the challenge of r e s t o r i n g t h e pe r s o n a l — v i r t u a l b a la n c e . — Ka r l A l b r e c h t , “ E i g h t S u p e r t r e n d s S ha p i n g t h e F u t u r e o f B u s in e s s , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 6 , p . 2 7 L o s s o f m i n o r i t y la n g u a g e s c o u l d b e r e v e r s e d . G l o b a l i z a t i o n i s o n e o f t h e f o r c e s d r i v i n g o u t m i n o r i t y c u l t u r e s a n d t h e i r la n g u a g e s , b u t communication technologies and national policies may help reverse the trend. Thanks to the Internet, Modern Hebrew, for
  • 614. 614 instance, can be studied and spread around the world. Catalan, French Canadian, Irish Gaelic, and Welsh are among the minority Ca la n g u a g e s receiving renewed institutional support from governments, schools, and businesses. — Eric Garland, “Can M i n o r i t y L a n g u a g e s B e S a v e d ? ” J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 6 , p . 3 1 T e x t w i l l b e i n s t a n t l y t r a n s l a t e d in t o m u l t i m e d i a p r e s e n t a t i o n s . N o m o r e w a i t i n g f o r t h e m o v i e v e r s i o n : R a p i d l a n gu a g e p r o c e s s i n g w i l l c re a t e m u l t i m e d i a a n i m a t i o n s o f y ou r f a v o r i t e b o o k ( o r a n y t e x t , s u c h a s d i r e c t i o n s t o a m u s e u m i n a f o r e i g n c i t y) . F i l m m a k e r s c ou l d u se t h e t e c h n o l o g y t o c re a t e m o r e - r e a l i s t i c s t o r y b o a r d s f r o m s c r e e n p l a y s a n d e x p e r i m e n t w i t h d i f f e r e n t c a me r a a n g l e s b e f o r e a c t o r s a r e b r o u g h t o n t o t h e s e t . — T o m o r r o w i n B r ie f , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 RESOURCES Agriculture’s role in the world economy may e x pa n d . By concentrating more on producing transportation fuels than food, the world’s farmers could strengthen their role in the global e c o n o m y . S u g a rc a n e o r pa l m o i l g r o w n f o r f u e l, f o r i n s t a n c e , c ou l d give producers in tropical and subtropical countries a vital strategic advantage. One side effect: Supermarkets and service s t a t i o n s w i l l i n c r e a s i n g l y b e c o m e c o m p e t i t o r s f o r a g r i c u l t u ra l
  • 615. 615 commodities. — Lester R. Brown, “Rescuing a Planet Under Stress,” July-Aug 2006, p. 20 Water shortages in Africa will grow more severe. Nearly 200 million Africans are facing serious water shortages. That number w i l l c l i m b t o 2 3 0 m i l l i o n b y 2 0 2 5 , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Un i t e d N a t i o n s E n v i r o n m e n t P r o g r a m . F i n d i n g f re s h w a t e r i n Af r i c a i s o f t e n a huge task, requiring people (mostly women and children) to trek m i l e s t o pu b l i c w e l l s . W h i l e t h e a v e r a g e h u m a n r e q u i r e s o n l y a b o u t 4 l i t e r s o f d r i n k i n g w a t e r a d a y, a s m u c h a s 5 , 0 0 0 l i t e r s o f wa t e r i s n e e d e d t o p r o d u c e a pe r s o n ’ s d a i l y f o o d r e q u i r e m e n t s . M o r e w e l l s a n d w a t e r d i s p l a c e m e n t pu m p s c o u l d a l l e v ia t e t h i s p r o b l e m . — Patrick Tucker, “Power by Play: A Child-Run Water Pump,” Nov- D e c 2 0 0 5, p . 6 8 5, W o r l d e n e r g y d e m a n d w i l l i n c r e a s e d r a m a t i c a l l y. E x p e r t s p r e d i c t that energy demand will rise by 60% between 2002 and 2030 and w i l l r e q u i r e a b o u t $ 5 6 8 b i l l i o n in n e w in v e s t m e n t s e v e r y y e a r . P a r t o f t h i s d e m a n d c a n b e o f f s e t t h r o u g h g r e a t e r e n e r g y e f f i c ie n c y. T he Texas Transportation Institute has found that in the United States alone 2.3 billion gallons of gas is wasted each year in traffic jams. — J e r o m e C . G le n n a n d T h e o d o r e J . G o r d o n , “ U p d a t e o n t h e S ta t e o f t h e F u t u r e , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 3
  • 616. 616 C o a l c ou l d m a k e a c le a n e r c o m e b a c k . S k y r o c k e t i n g o i l p r i c e s m a ke cheaper energy sources like coal look more attractive. Use of coal w o r l d w i d e i s e x p e c t e d t o g r o w b y 1 . 5 % a ye a r . I f n o t m a n a g e d properly, that increased consumption could have dire e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s . N e w c l e a n e r - b u r n in g p la n t s c ou l d c o n v e r t t h e c oa l i n t o a s y n t h e t i c g a s , w h i c h w o u l d b e m o r e e f f ic i e n t , u s e less water, and through carbon trapping technology make coal v i r t u a l l y e m i s s i o n s f r e e . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 5 C o s t o f s o l a r e n e r g y w i l l d e c l in e . E l e c t r i c i t y g e n e r a t e d f r o m s o l a r p o w e r i s e x p e n s i v e a n d t h u s a m i n o r p la y e r o n t h e e n e r g y s c e n e . B u t t h e c o s t o f p h o t o v o l t a i c p a n e l s h a s d e c l in e d b y 9 0 % i n t h e pa s t t h r e e d e c a d e s , a n d t h e m a r k e t i s e x pe c t e d t o g r o w f r o m $ 1 1 . 2 billion in 2005 to $50 billion in 2015. — World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2006, p. 16 SECURITY I n t h e f u t u r e , t h e m i l i t a r y w i l l f o c u s m o r e o n s h a p i n g pe r c e p t i o n s t h a n o n h u m a n t a r g e t s . M a n y U. S . s e c u r i t y e x p e r t s f e e l t h a t t h e k e y c h a l l e n g e s a he a d a r e r o o t e d i n h o w p e o p l e a r o u n d t h e w o r l d pe r c e i v e t h e W e s t a n d t h e m s e l v e s . T h e m o s t - d a n g e r o u s m i l i t a r y t h r e a t i n t h e c o m i n g d e c a d e s w i l l a r i s e f r o m s m a l l , i n d e pe n d e n t
  • 617. 617 g r o u p s w i t h o u t t h e a b i l i t y t o d i r e c t l y c h a l le n g e U . S . m i g h t . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - A p r , 2 0 0 6 , p. 6 C o m p u t e r v i ru s e s i n o r d i n a r y o b j e c t s m a y b e c o m e a t e r r o r i s t weapon. As more and more things ranging from luggage to pets h a v e r a d i o - f re q u e n c y i d e n t i f ic a t i o n t a g s , n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e e me r g i n g f o r t a m p e r i n g , s e c u r i t y d i s r u p t i o n s , o r e v e n t e r r o r i s t attacks. A single piece of luggage infected with a computer virus c ou l d d i s r u p t a n a i r p o r t ’ s b a g g a g e - h a n d l i n g d a t a b a s e . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 6 , p . 1 4 TECHNOLOGY W e ’ l l i n c o r p o r a t e w i r e l e s s t e c h n o l o g y in t o o u r t h o u g h t p r o c e s s i n g by 2030. In the next 25 years, we’ll learn how to augment our 100 trillion very slow interneuronal connections with high-speed virtual connections via nanorobotics. This will allow us to greatly b o o s t o u r pa t t e r n - r e c o g n i t i o n a b i l i t i e s , m e m o r i e s , a n d o v e r a l l thinking capacity, as well as to directly interface with powerful forms of computer intelligence and with each other. By the end of t h e 2 0 3 0 s , w e w i l l b e a b l e t o m o v e b e y o n d t h e b a s i c a rc h i t e c t u r e o f t h e b r a i n ’ s n e u r a l r e g i o n s . — Ra y Ku r z w e i l , “ T h e F u tu r e o f H u ma n — Machine Intelligence,” Mar-Apr 2006, p. 43
  • 618. 618 W i t h i n t h e n e x t t h r e e d e c a d e s , p e o p l e w i l l b e g i n e x pe r i m e n t i n g more freely and recklessly with nano-electronic personal enhancement. One type of nano-device people might try to i n c o r p o r a t e i n t o t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g c o u l d b e a r t i f ic i a l b l o o d c e l l s ( r e s p i r o c y t e s ) , w h i c h c ou l d g r e a t l y e n h a n c e h u m a n pe r f o r m a n c e . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e y c ou l d a l s o c a u s e o v e r h e a t i n g o f the body and breakdowns. — Jerome C. Glenn and Theodore J. G o r d o n , “ U p d a t e o n t h e S ta t e o f t h e Fu t u r e , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 3 W e w i l l s o o n b e a b l e t o b u i l d c o m pu t e r m o d e l s o f o u r p r e f e r e n c e s , o p i n i o n s , a n d m e n ta l a s s o c i a t i o n s . T h e s e n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l mark the convergence of cognitive science and more traditional m e t h o d s o f p s y c h o l o g y . Fu r t h e r i n t h e f u t u r e , w e c a n e x p e c t t h e development of rigorous means for recording and classifying all of a p e r s o n ’ s 5 0 , 0 0 0 e p i s o d i c m e m o r i e s — t h a t i s , m e m o r i e s o f s p e c if i c events and the feelings that accompanied them. — William Sims Bainbridge, “Cyberimmortality: Science, Religion, and the Battle to S a v e O u r S ou l s , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 5 Computers will be more than 1,000 times more powerful in a d e c a d e , o n e m i l l i o n t i m e s m o r e p o w e r f u l in 2 0 ye a r s , a n d o n e b i l l i o n t i m e s m o r e p o w e r f u l i n 3 0 ye a r s . B y t h e n , s o m e m a c h i n e s might have capabilities to rival the human mind, giving rise to a n e w i n t e l l i g e n t s p e c i e s t o s h a r e t h e p la n e t w i t h u s . — D a m ie n
  • 619. 619 B r o d e r i c k , “ N a n o f a c t o r i e s , G a n g W a r s , a n d Fe e l i e s , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 6 , p. 4 7 Hu m a n b a b i e s m a y b e g e n e t i c a l l y m a n u f a c t u r e d b y t h e e n d o f t h e century. Nations have historically competed for technological s u p r e m a c y , a s s e e n i n t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y w i t h t h e n u c le a r a r m s and space races. This competition will likely continue with b i o t e c h n o l o g y . I f C h i n a , f o r in s t a n c e , pu r s u e s a g o a l o f c re a t i n g a w o r k f o r c e w i t h s u p e r i o r i n t e l l i g e n c e , t h e n e t h i c a l qu a l m s a b o u t e n g i n e e r i n g h u m a n b e i n g s m a y b e b r u s h e d a s i d e in o t h e r c o u n t r i e s t h a t d o n ’ t w a n t t o f a l l b e h i n d in t h e s m a r t - b a b y r a c e . H o w e v e r , geneticist Ian Wilmut believes that, due to the subtle nature of the h u m a n b o d y a n d pa r t i c u l a r l y t h e h u m a n b r a i n , a n y a t t e m p t t o design “super” babies will most likely result in a new generation afflicted with completely avoidable birth defects. — Eric G. S we d i n , “ D e s i g n i n g B a b i e s : A E u g e n ic s R a c e w i t h C h i n a ? ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 1 ; P a t r i c k T u c k e r , “ D e s i g n e r B a b i e s a n d 2 1 s t Century Cures” (review of After Dolly by Ian Wilmut), Sep-Oct 2 0 0 6 , p. 4 8 From prosthetic aids to mind programming? Cochlear implants, w h i c h m e l i o r a t e h e a r i n g l o s s , a re a h a r b i n g e r o f f u t u r e h u m a n — machine interfaces. Currently, such devices operate one-way, with s e n s o r s p i c k i n g u p d a t a a n d d e l iv e r i n g i t t o t h e u s e r ’ s b r a i n . B u t i n
  • 620. 620 t h e f u t u r e , n e u r a l d e v i c e s c o u l d b e w i r e l e s s l y c on n e c t e d t o a computer, delivering information from your brain to a network. Ou r t h o u g h t s w o u l d t h u s b e c o m e v i s i b l e t o a l l . — M ic h a e l C h o r o s t , “ T h e M i n d - P r o g r a m m a b l e E r a , ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 6 8 TRANSPORTATION A rise of disabled Americans will strain public transportation s y s t e m s . B y t h e y e a r 2 0 2 5 , t h e n u m b e r o f A m e r i c a n s a ge d 6 5 o r older will expand from 35 million to more than 65 million, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U . S . C e n s u s B u re a u . I n d i v i d u a l s i n t h a t a g e g r o u p a re m o r e t h a n t w i c e a s l i ke l y t o h a v e a d i s a b i l i t y a s t h o s e a g e d 1 6 to 65. If that figure remains unchanged, the number of disabled pe o p l e l i v i n g i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l g r o w t o 2 4 m i l l i o n o v e r t h e c ou r s e o f t h e n e x t 2 0 y e a r s . R i s i n g r a t e s o f o u t p a t i e n t c a r e a n d chronic illness point to an increased demand for public t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a s w e l l a s s p e c ia l pu b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e r v i c e s i n the coming decades. — World Trends & Forecasts, Nov-Dec 2005, p. 10 Wireless technologies will improve highway safety. C o m m u n i c a t i o n s t e c h n o l o g y w i l l e n a b l e m o t o r v e h i c le s t o e x c h a n g e information with each other, such as their proximity and speed. D a i m l e r C h r y s l e r i s d e v e l o p i n g o n e s u c h s y s t e m , c a l l e d Ca r T a l k
  • 621. 621 2000. The data exchange would occur through ad hoc networks t h a t w o u l d s p r i n g t o l i f e a s c a r s c a me n e a r e a c h o t h e r . — Tomorrow in Brief, Nov-Dec 2005, p. 2 De F u t u r e c a r s ma y ru n o n e x h a u s t f u m e s . A d e v i c e t h a t u se s v e h ic l e e x h a u s t t o s p i n a t u r b i n e f o r g e n e r a t i n g e l e c t r i c i t y c ou l d a l l o w f u t u r e c a r s t o l i t e r a l l y ru n o n f u m e s . U p t o a t h i r d o f t h e p o w e r t h a t a c on v e n t i o n a l e n g i n e p r o d u c e s i s w a s t e d i n e x h a u s t f u m e s . Turning those fumes into a power source could cut fuel consumption by as much as 10%, according to researchers. — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 2 Sports cars will be more environmentally friendly thanks to a dv a n c e s t h a t w i l l m a k e h y d r o g e n - p o w e r e d f u e l c e l l s s m a l l e r a n d l i g h t e r . T he s l e e k s t y l i n g o f s p o r t s c a r s c ou l d a l s o m a k e i t c o o l f o r m o t o r i s t s t o g o g r e e n . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 2 VALUES AND CULTURE W o r k e r s w i l l i n c r e a s i n g l y c h o o s e m o r e t i m e o v e r m o r e m o n e y . T he productivity boom in the U.S. economy during the twentieth c e n t u r y c re a t e d a m a s s i v e c o n s u m e r c u l t u r e — p e o p l e m a d e m o r e money, so they bought more stuff. In the twenty-first century, h o w e v e r , w o r k e r s m a y i n c r e a s i n g l y c h o o s e t o t r a d e h i g h e r s a la r i e s
  • 622. 622 for more time with their families. Nearly a third of U.S. workers recently polled said they would prefer more time off rather than m o r e h o u r s o f pa i d e m p l o y m e n t . — R o b e r t D. A t k i n s o n , “ B u i l d i n g a M o r e - H u m a n e E c o n o m y , ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 6 , p. 4 8 The production of art will increase as the audience for art shrinks. New media such as video, virtual reality, and hyperlinked text will c re a t e n e w m e t h o d s f o r a r t i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n . B u t f i n e a r t i s f a c i n g increased competition for viewers’ time and attention among “easier” forms of leisure, such as videogames and television, according to a RAND Corporation report, “A Portrait of the Visual A r t s . ” — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J a n - F e b 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 0 T h e f u tu r e o f a n t i q u i t i e s i s b l e a k . A r c h a e o l o g i s t s m a y o n e d a y s e e a world where no culturally significant site has been left unpillaged, warns c u l tu r a l reporter Roger Atwood in S te a l i n g History. T ou r i s t s , t o m b r a i d e r s , a n d t r e a s u r e h u n t e r s a re n ’ t t h e o n l y t h r e a t s t o a c u l t u r e ’ s a n t i q u i t i e s . I n d iv i d u a l s l i v i n g in p o v e r t y n e a r v a lu e d m o n u m e n t s o r o t h e r t r e a s u r e s in c r e a s i n g l y t r e a t t h e s e r e l i c s a s a p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e o f c a s h . R e d u c in g i l l e g a l t r a d e i n antiquities will require better international cooperation among governments, museums, and private collectors. — World Trends & Forecasts, May-June 2006, p. 9
  • 623. 623 Religious tolerance will increase—but not right away. The world’s m a j o r r e l i g i o n s s h a r e v a lu e s b u t n o t p h i l o s o p h i e s , a n d t h e i r conflicting ideologies will continue to prevent peaceful coexistence i n m a n y s o c i e t i e s . B u t a s g l o b a l c o m m u n ic a t i o n s a n d i n t e r a c t i o n a m o n g d i v e r s e p e o p l e s g r o w s , t o l e r a n c e i s m o r e l i ke l y t o in c r e a s e o v e r t h e l o n g t e r m . — T h o m a s R . M c F a u l, “ R e l i g i o n i n t h e Fu t u r e G l o b a l C i v i l i z a t i o n , ” S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p. 3 6 Intolerance is accelerating along with growth of fundamentalist p o p u la t i o n s . T he f a s t e s t - g r o w i n g r e l i g i o n s t o d a y t e n d t o b e t h o s e e s p o u s i n g t h e m o s t - f u n da m e n t a l i s t a n d e x c l u s i v i s t p o i n t s o f v ie w , making the hope for peace tenuous. Separating religion from p o l i t i c a l d e c i s i o n m a k i n g , a s h a s l a r g e l y b e e n d o n e in E u r o p e , c ou l d help prevent in s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d in intolerance. — Roy S p e c k h a r d t , “ T o w a r d a M o r e I n c lu s i v e F u t u r e , ” S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p . 37 Tolerance is accelerating along with in t e r a c t i o n of diverse p o p u la t i o n s . G l o b a l e c o n o m i c s a n d c o m m u n ic a t i o n s a re i n c r e a s i n g business and social interaction across religions. This increased exposure will likely beget increased interreligious tolerance. — Ha r o l d G . K o e n i g , “ F i n d i n g T o l e r a n c e b y R e s p e c t i n g D i v e r s i t y , ” Sep-Oct 2006, p. 37
  • 624. 624 WORK The robotic workforce will change how your boss values you. As r o b o t s a n d i n t e l l i g e n t s o f t w a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y e m u la t e t h e k n o w l e d g e work that humans can do, businesses will “hire” whatever type of m i n d t h a t c a n d o t h e w o r k — r o b o t i c o r h u m a n . Fu t u r e h u m a n workers may collaborate with robotic minds on projects for a variety of enterprises, rather than work for a single employer. — Arnold Brown, “The Robotic Economy: Brave New World or a R e t u r n t o S la v e r y ? ” J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 6 , p . 5 3 A d v a n c e s i n t e c h n o l o g y w i l l g i v e r i s e t o a n e w e ra o f “ h y p e r j o b s . ” T h e s e n e w o c c u p a t i o n s w i l l e m p h a s i z e u n i qu e l y h u m a n s k i l l s o v e r mere technical abilities. Hyper-human skills might i n c lu d e c re a t i v i t y , s y m b o l i c t h i n k i n g , a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e j o b o f n u r s i n g m a y i n v o l v e m u c h l e s s pa p e r w o r k t h a n i t d o e s t o d a y , and much more symptom detection; surgeons c ou l d become e x t i n c t , r e p l a c e d b y s u r g i c a l r o b o t s , b u t e n j o y n e w o c c u pa t i o n s , such as surgical procedure developers. — Richard W. Samson, “Hyperjobs: The New Higher-Level Work and How to Grow Into It” Nov-Dec 2005, p. 41 Ou t s o u r c i n g w i l l a c tu a l l y c re a t e j o b s . T h e U . S . B u r e a u o f L a b o r S ta t i s t i c s h a s e s t i m a t e d t h a t t o t a l U. S . e m p l o y m e n t i s l i ke l y t o
  • 625. 625 increase from 144 million jobs in 2002 to 165 million by 2012, la r g e l y a s a r e s u l t o f e f f i c i e n c i e s g a in e d t h r o u g h o u t s o u r c i n g . — J o h n A . C h a l l e n g e r , “ W o r k i n g i n t h e F u tu r e : H o w T o d a y ’ s T re n d s A r e S h a p i n g T o m o r r o w ’ s J o b s , ” N o v - De c 2 0 0 5, p . 4 7 S u p e r l o n g e v i t y w i l l h a v e a g r o w i n g i n f l u e n c e o n c a re e r c h o i c e s . Realizing that their careers might extend for 50 years or more, younger careerists, even those not yet ready for full-time employment, will experiment with unique career patterns. More y o u n g pe o p l e w i l l o p t t o n o t o n l y pu r s u e p o s t g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n , t h e y m a y r e ma i n i n s c h o o l w e l l in t o t h e i r 2 0 s o r e a r l y 3 0 s i n o r d e r t o t r a i n f o r t h e c o m p l e x j o b s r e q u i r e d i n o u r a dv a n c e d s o c i e t y . More people in their 50s will also return to school to start new careers. — Michael G. Zey, “The Superlongevity Revolution: How It y, W i l l C h a n g e Ou r L i v e s , ” N o v - D e c 2 0 0 5 , p. 1 6 S P E C I A L F O C U S O N C HI N A A N D I N D I A E c o n o m i c a l l y , C h i n a a n d I n d i a w i l l s u r p a s s J a pa n a n d t h e Un i t e d S ta t e s w i t h i n t h e n e x t 3 0 y e a r s . B o t h C h i n a a n d I n d ia h a v e e me r g e d r a p i d l y f r o m d e e p p o v e r t y t o b e c o m e d o m i n a n t p l a y e r s o n the world’s economic and political scene. India’s economy is p r e d i c t e d t o s u r pa s s J a p a n ’ s b y 2 0 3 2 , a n d C h i n a c ou l d s u r pa s s t h e U . S . e c o n o m y b y 2 0 3 9 . — M a r v in J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n Da v i e s , “ T h e
  • 626. 626 Dragon vs. the Tiger: China and I n d ia Reshape the Global Economy,” July-Aug 2006, p. 40 China will surpass the U.S. as world’s leading consumer. As a n a t i o n , C h i n a a l r e a d y o u t c o n s u m e s t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s o n b a s i c c o m m o d i t i e s s u c h a s f o o d , e n e r g y , m e a t , g r a i n , o i l , c o a l, a n d s t e e l . As individuals, Americans still lead the world in consumption, but if t h e C h i n e s e e c o n o m y c o n t i n u e s i t s r a p i d g r o w t h , pe r - p e r s o n consumption levels will match or surpass those of the U.S. with dire impacts on the global environment. — Lester R. Brown, “ R e s c u i n g a P l a n e t U n d e r S t r e s s , ” J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 6 , p. 1 9 More recognizable brand names will come from China. American f i r m s h a v e o u t s o u r c e d s o mu c h o f t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n t o t h e C h i n e s e that they have actually groomed their f u tu r e competitors. Following the branding success of firms like Lenovo, look out for more uniquely Chinese brands to show up across all sectors of the c o n s u m e r e c o n o m y , i n c lu d i n g C h a n g h o n g E l e c t r i c ( a n e le c t r o n i c s supplier to Wal-Mart), Xi’an Aircraft (a Boeing subcontractor), and Ha i r ( a n a p p l i a n c e m a n u f a c t u r e r ) . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , Jan-Feb 2006, p. 12 Energy choices will make or break Chinese and Indian economies. H e a v y r e l i a n c e o n f o s s i l f u e l s , p a r t i c u la r l y c o a l , c ou l d u n d e r m i n e
  • 627. 627 the investments that China and India have made in growing their e c o n o m i e s . A n e w pu s h t o w a r d d e v e l o p i n g t h e r i c h p o t e n t i a l o f s o l a r a n d w i n d e n e r g y s y s t e m s o v e r t h e n e x t 1 0 ye a r s c ou l d h e l p t h e s e c ou n t r i e s l e a p f r o g a h e a d o f t h e W e s t , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e W o r l d w a t c h I n s t i t u t e . — “ E n e r g y C h a l le n g e s f o r C h i n a a n d I n d i a , ” July-Aug 2006, p. 41 D w i n d l i n g s u p p l i e s o f w a t e r in C h i n a r a i s e c o n c e r n s f o r t h e g l o b a l e c o n o m y . W i t h u n e v e n d e v e l o p m e n t a c r o s s C h i n a , t h e m o s t wa t e r - i n t e n s i v e i n d u s t r i e s a n d d e n s e s t p o p u la t i o n a r e i n r e g i o n s w h e r e water is scarcest. The result is higher prices for commodities and goods exported from China, so the costs of resource and e n v i r o n m e n t a l m i s m a n a g e m e n t a re t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 6 , p . 8 China and India will be exceptions to the global urbanization t r e n d . N e a r l y h a lf o f t h e w o r l d ’ s r e s i d e n t s w i l l l iv e i n c i t i e s b y 2 0 3 0 , a c c o r d i n g t o d e m o g r a p h e r P h i l i p p e B oc q u i e r . ( T h i s f o r e c a s t is substantially lower than the UN’s previous estimate.) However, this urbanization trend is not occurring in the two countries with t h e l a r g e s t p o p u la t i o n s — C h i n a a n d I n d i a . N i n e o u t o f 1 0 c o u n t r i e s t h a t w i l l c o n t r i b u t e m o r e t h a n h a lf o f a l l u r b a n g r o w t h b e t w e e n 2025 and 2030 are developing countries: Indonesia, Pakistan, B ra z i l , N i g e r i a , M e x i c o , E t h i o p i a , I r a n , C o l o m b i a , a n d K o r e a ( t h e
  • 628. 628 tenth is Germany). According to UN estimates, the urban p o p u la t i o n o f C h i n a i s e x pe c t e d t o in c r e a s e b y 2 9 3 m i l l i o n b e f o r e t h e y e a r 2 0 2 5 , b u t B o c qu i e r p r o j e c t s t h e n u m b e r w i l l b e c l o s e r t o 7 4 m i l l i o n . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - D e c 2 0 0 5 , p . 1 1 The world economy will experience in t e n s e “ C h i n a f ic a t i o n . ” ic C h i n a ’ s g r o w i n g c o n s u m e r c la s s a n d i t s m o n o p o l y o n c h e a p la b o r i n m a n u f a c tu r i n g g i v e i t e n o r m o u s c l o u t i n t h e m a r k e t f o r c r i t i c a l resources. Competitors among developed countries may increasingly cry f ou l over Chinese trade p o l i c ie s , currency manipulation, and piracy of intellectual property. — Karl Albrecht, “ E i g h t S u p e r t r e n d s S h a p i n g t h e F u tu r e o f B u s i n e s s , ” S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p. 26 Ou t l o o k f o r A s i a : C h i n a f o r t h e s h o r t t e r m , I n d ia f o r t h e l o n g t e r m . B y 2 0 2 5 , b o t h c ou n t r i e s w i l l b e s t r o n g e r , w e a l t h i e r , f r e e r , a n d m o r e s t a b l e t h a n t h e y a re t o d a y , b u t I n d i a ’ s u n i q u e a s s e t s — s u c h a s widespread use of English, a democratic government, and relative t r a n s p a r e n c y o f i t s i n s t i t u t i o n s — m a ke i t m o r e e c o n o m i c a l l y v i a b l e f a r t h e r o u t . — M a r v in J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , “ T h e Dragon vs. the Tiger: China and I n d ia Reshape the Global Economy,” July-Aug 2006, p. 46 Preparing for Bird Flu Pandemic
  • 629. 629 A g l o b a l f lu pa n d e m i c i s l i k e l y a n d c ou l d c o s t 1 5 0 m i l l i o n l iv e s . M o r e t h a n h a lf o f U . S . d o c t o r s s u rv e y e d r e c e n t l y s a i d a pa n d e m i c w i l l a r r i v e w i t h i n t h e n e x t f o u r ye a r s . P u b l i c - h e a l t h o f f i c i a l s a r e pa r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n e d a b o u t H 5 N 1 b i r d f l u , w h i c h i s s p r e a d i n g g l o b a l l y a n d m a y e v o lv e i n t o a d e a d l y h u m a n s t r a i n . De a t h t o l l projections range from 5 million to 150 million, depending on how w e l l n a t i o n a l a n d l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s p r e p a r e . — T y l e r A. K o k j o h n a n d K i m b a l E . C o o p e r , “ I n t h e S ha d o w o f P a n d e m i c , ” S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p. 5 3 B i r d f lu pa n d e m i c c o u l d b e d e v a s t a t i n g t o a g r i c u l tu r a l e c o n o m i e s . The 2003 outbreak of bird flu in Vietnam caused a 15% drop in poultry production, or about $50 million. If similar declines occur in Indonesia, the costs to poultry farming could be as high as $500 million. — Tyler A. Kokjohn and Kimbal E. Cooper, “In the Shadow of Pandemic,” Sep-Oct 2006, p. 54 Telecommuting could avert economic disaster from bird f lu pa n d e m i c . O n c e a pa n d e m i c h i t s a d e v e l o p e d e c o n o m y s u c h a s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a b s e n t e e i s m i s l i ke l y t o s k y r o c k e t . T o m i n i m i z e t h e i m p a c t s o n b u s i n e s s e s , f i r m s c ou l d b e g i n n o w t o s w i t c h t o a p r e d o m i n a n t l y t e le c o m m u t i n g w o r k f o r c e , s o t h a t p e o p l e c o u l d s t a y
  • 630. 630 p r o d u c t i v e w h i l e a v o i d i n g e x p o s u r e t o in f e c t e d c o l l e a g u e s . — “ A b s e n t e e i s m i n t h e W a k e o f Ou t b r e a k , ” S e p - O c t 2 0 0 6 , p . 5 6 NEW JOB TITLES H e r e a re a f e w p o t e n t i a l f u tu r e o c c u pa t i o n s , g l e a n e d f r o m T H E F U T U R I S T i n t h e pa s t y e a r . Richard A. Samson (“Hyperjobs: The New Higher-Level Work and H o w t o G e t I n t o I t , ” N o v - De c 2 0 0 5) : • Bioaesthetic Coach • E x pe r i e n c e D e s i g n e r • He a l t h - E n h a n c e m e n t M e n t o r • Intercommunity Farmer • Personal Genome Optimizer • J o h n A . C h a l l e n g e r ( “W o r k i n g i n t h e F u tu r e : H o w T o d a y ’ s T re n d s Are Shaping • Tomorrow’s Jobs,” Nov-Dec 2005): • Chief Health Officer • Coordinator of Workforce De v e l o p m e n t and Continuing Education • Corporate Historian • Manager of Diversity
  • 631. 631 • Manager of Faith-Based Relations and Initiatives • Of f s h o r e O u t s o u r c i n g C o o r d i n a t o r J o y c e G i o i a a n d R o g e r H e r m a n ( “ Ca r e e r P l a n n in g f o r t h e 2 1 s t Century,” Nov-Dec 2005): • Chief Innovation Officer • Executive Chef, Space Airline • Global Work Process Coordinator • Skycar Mechanic • Telemedicine Technician • Transhumanist Designer/Technician • Underwater Hotel Manager • Vice President of Experiences ____________________________________ OUTLOOK 2006 ____________________________________ BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS Where the jobs will be. Biotech and pharmaceutical workers, radiology specialists, gerontologists, and nurses will see big demand for their skills in the coming decade, as baby boomers age and increase the demand for medical attention. By 2020, the U n i t e d S ta t e s a l o n e w i l l r e q u i r e 2 . 8 m i l l i o n n e w n u r s e s , u p f r o m 2
  • 632. 632 million needed right now. — World Trends & Forecasts, May-June 2005, p. 12 J o b b o o m f o r e s e e n i n s o l a r in d u s t r i e s . T he j o b o u t l o o k l o o k s b r i g h t for solar industries, with some 42,000 new U.S. jobs by 2015. In t h e n e x t d e c a d e , t h e U . S . s o l a r i n du s t r y c ou l d g e n e ra t e m o r e t h a n $ 3 4 b i l l i o n i n n e w m a n u f a c tu r i n g i n v e s t m e n t s . S o l a r p o w e r c ou l d displace 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas by 2025, saving U.S. c o n s u m e r s a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 6 4 b i l l i o n . — F u tu r i s t U p d a t e , M a r 2005 N e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r “ a g e l e s s a g in g . ” A m o n g t h e n e w b u s i n e s s opportunities that could arise to cater to the boomers who want to a ge without growing old: Antiaging spas, intergenerational c o m m u n e s , a n d t h e r a p e u t ic c l o n i n g f o r k i d n e y s , l iv e r s , a n d o t h e r r e p la c e m e n t b o d y pa r t s . — Ke n D yc h t w a l d , “ A g e l e s s A g i n g : T he N e x t E r a o f Re t i r e m e n t , ” J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 5, p . 1 8 A new profession may rise to help you manage your personal i n f o r m a t i o n . L i k e a mu t u a l - f u n d s m a n a g e r , pe r s o n a l - in f o r m a t i o n m a n a g e r s m a y e m e r g e t o p r o t e c t y ou r v a l u a b l e pe r s o n a l d a t a f r o m i d e n t i t y t h i e v e s — a n d le v e ra g e i t w i t h a dv e r t i s e r s a n d o t h e r s w h o want a piece of your attention. — Brian Mulconrey, “Your Personal
  • 633. 633 I n f o r m a t i o n : M a n a g i n g Y o u r M o s t Va l u a b l e A s s e t , ” S e p - O c t 2 0 0 5 , p. 24 The rise of an open-source workforce. Information technologies and open collaboration are toppling traditional business hierarchies. Increasingly, in d i v i d u a l s will become “extra- preneurs,” members of virtual networks that collaborate on projects that not only benefit their organizations but also add v a lu e t o t h e i r c u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e j o b s . — Da v i d P e a r c e S n y d e r , “Extra-Preneurship: Reinventing Enterprise for the Information Age,” July-Aug 2005, p. 47 Retirement is retiring. Fewer older workers expect to be able to retire early, so organizations will increasingly need to help workers revise their career-planning strategies. Abandoning compulsory retirement ages within companies is a likely step. — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J a n - F e b 2 0 0 5 , p. 1 5 Paying for the elderly. By 2020, nations with generous pension policies will find that growing numbers of retirees will severely hinder their ability to commit funds to other social needs, such as f o o d p r o g r a m s f o r t h e p o o r . I ta l y , A u s t r a l i a , a n d F r a n c e w i l l s t r u g g l e , b u t J a p a n , N o r w a y , a n d S we d e n h a v e a l r e a d y m a d e m o v e s
  • 634. 634 t o a v e r t a p e n s i o n c r i s i s b y ra i s i n g t h e a v e r a g e r e t i r e m e n t a ge . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p. 7 DEMOGRAPHY A d u l t h o o d w i l l g r o w i n c r e a s i n g l y e l u s i v e . I f “ a du l t h o o d ” m e a n s h a v i n g a lu c r a t i v e j o b , f i n a n c i a l i n d e pe n d e n c e , a n d t h e a b i l i t y t o support a family as requisite factors, then an increasing number of y o u n g A me r i c a n s w i l l f in d i t h a r d e r t o a c h i e v e . T h e g r o w i n g d e m a n d f o r a dv a n c e d e d u c a t i o n , c ou p l e d w i t h h i g h e r c o s t s a n d d i s a p p e a r i n g e du c a t i o n s u b s i d i e s , i s f o r c i n g y o u n g pe o p l e t o s t a y i n s c h o o l l o n g e r b e f o r e t h e y c a n f i n d w e l l - pa y i n g j o b s . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - D e c 2 0 0 4 , p. 1 1 The gender gap among older Americans may narrow. Currently, women over the age of 80 outnumber their male counterparts by 2 . 5 t o 1 . B u t t h a t m a y c h a n g e a s c u r e s a re d e v e l o p e d f o r h e a r t disease, prostate cancer, and other ailments that typically shorten men’s life if spans compared with women’s. — Eric Garland, “Reinventing Sex: New Technologies and Changing Attitudes,” Nov-Dec 2004, p. 44 M a l e s m a y b e d o o m e d b y g e n e t i c s . T he h u m a n Y c h r o m o s o m e — t h a t which defines the male—is on a long-term spiral of decay,
  • 635. 635 accumulating mutations that may ultimately render males infertile ( a n d e x t i n c t ) . A d a m ’ s C u r s e a u t h o r B r ya n S y k e s g i v e s h u ma n i t y another 125,000 years to save the male of the species, perhaps t h r o u g h t h e c re a t i o n o f a n e w , m o r e s t a b l e s e x c h r o m o s o m e t o support the c ru c i a l m a l e - f o r m i n g genes. — World T re n d s & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2005, p. 9 “ E l d e r b o o m ” i n p r i s o n s w i l l i n c r e a s e . T o u g h s e n t e n c i n g la w s i n t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s a r e pu t t i n g m o r e pe o p l e b e h i n d b a r s f o r l o n g e r pe r i o d s o f t i m e , c r e a t i n g a n e l d e r b o o m i n p r i s o n s . T h i s i s c r e a t i n g a h e a l t h - c a r e p r o b l e m , s i n c e f e w pe n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a re c u r r e n t l y set up to handle geriatric problems. — Konrad M. Kressley, “Aging a n d P u b l i c I n s t i t u t i o n s , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 5 , p . 3 0 Military bases may be transformed into veterans’ retirement e n c la v e s . Retired service members now nearly match the p o p u la t i o n s o f a c t i v e - d u t y m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l c l u s t e r i n g n e a r U. S . bases. In some areas, like Texas, Florida, and metropolitan Washington, D.C. retirees already outnumber a c t iv e - d u t y m e m b e r s . T h i s c ou l d b e a b o o n f o r t h e b a s e s : T h e r e t i r e e s t y p ic a l l y spend more money on higher-ticket items at base exchanges. — Konrad M. Kressley, “Aging and Public Institutions,” Sep-Oct 2005, p. 30
  • 636. 636 Mass migration will redistribute the world’s population. There are a b o u t 8 0 m i l l i o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l m i g r a n t w o r k e r s in t h e w o r l d t o d a y , a n d t h e w i d e s p r e a d m o v e m e n t o f p e o p l e f r o m p o o r c ou n t r i e s t o richer ones is exacerbating social and economic problems in the host regions. Immigrant workers who perform poorly become a s t r a i n o n s o c i a l s e c u r i t y s y s t e m s , w h i l e t h o s e w h o d o we l l o f t e n d i v e r t t h e i r f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s b a c k t o t h e i r h o m e c ou n t r i e s , c re a t i n g r e s e n t m e n t a m o n g t h e i r n e w n e i g h b o r s . — M a r v i n J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , “ T r e n d s N o w S h a p in g t h e Fu t u r e : E c o n o m i c , S oc i e t a l , a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l T r e n d s , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p . 29 THE DEVELOPING WORLD Progress in meeting global development targets. Some countries h a v e m e t o r s u r p a s s e d m a n y o f t h e U N M i l l e n n iu m D e v e l o p m e n t G oa l s for reducing poverty, improving health, and e n su r i n g environmental sustainability. By 2001, Egypt had met the 2015 o b j e c t i v e o f r e d u c i n g h u n g e r f r o m 5 % o f t h e p o p u la t i o n t o 3 % , a n d Bangladesh had reduced the proportion of its population without access to improved water sources from 6% to 3%. — World Trends & Forecasts, July-Aug 2005, p. 6
  • 637. 637 G r o w t h o f L a t i n A m e r i c a n s c ie n c e r e s e a r c h c o u l d f u e l t h e r e g i o n ’ s future economic growth. Citations of science and engineering r e s e a rc h b y L a t i n A m e r i c a n s i n c r e a s e d b y n e a r l y 2 0 0 % b e t w e e n 1 9 8 8 a n d 2 0 0 1 , s i g n i f i c a n t l y o u t p a c in g a u t h o r s in o t h e r d e v e l o p i n g r e g i o n s o f t h e w o r l d . T he s u r g e o f s c i e n c e s c h o l a r s h i p i n t h e r e g i o n i s c on s i d e r e d a n i n d i c a t o r o f n a t i o n s ’ g r o w i n g c o m m i t m e n t t o investing in science and engineering as an engine for development. — World Trends & Forecasts, Mar-Apr 2005, p. 10 “ D i s e a s e s o f a f f lu e n c e ” w i l l k i l l m o r e p o o r pe o p l e . T h e n u m b e r o f pe o p l e i n d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s e x p e r i e n c i n g o b e s i t y a n d r e la t e d diseases—such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease—has grown to 1 1 5 m i l l i o n n o w f r o m e s s e n t i a l l y n o n e t w o g e n e r a t i o n s a g o . T he s e “diseases of affluence” occur as diets change away from high- quality foods, such as whole grains, fiber, and fruits and vegetables. By 2030, these diseases could become the primary k i l l e r s o f p o o r pe o p l e a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 5 , p. 1 5 A f r i c a n w o r k f o r c e i m p e r i l e d . I n t h e Af r i c a n c o u n t r i e s h a r d e s t h i t b y H I V / A I D S , t h e w o r k f o r c e c ou l d s h r i n k b y u p t o 4 0 % b y 2 0 1 5 . Multinational corporations with employees in Africa may increasingly find themselves at the forefront of efforts to combat t h e A I D S c r i s i s . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p. 2
  • 638. 638 Tackling high death rates could help reduce poverty. One of the major reasons poor countries have a hard time breaking out of the p o v e r t y t r a p i s pe r s i s t e n t l y h i g h d e a t h r a t e s . W he n p e o p l e d i e young, businesses and institutions fail to think in the long term and invest in opportunities that could promote growth, since there may not be enough workers to support the effort. To promote economic development, researchers recommend that nations improve health services that could lower mortality rates. — World T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 5 , p . 1 0 EDUCATION M o r e s t u d e n t s w i l l m i g r a t e f o r t h e i r e du c a t i o n . T h e n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s w h o w i l l j o u r n e y a b r o a d t o t a k e c o l le g e c o u r s e s w i l l t r i p l e f r o m 2 m i l l i o n t o 6 m i l l i o n a ye a r b y 2 0 2 0 . T h o s e s t u d e n t s w h o cannot afford to physically travel to other countries will i n c r e a s i n g l y l o o k t o w a r d o n l i n e e du c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s . D e m a n d f o r t r a n s n a t i o n a l e du c a t i o n d e l i v e r e d o n l i n e , v ia s a t e l l i t e , o r though videoconferencing systems will outstrip demand for onshore learning by 6% before 2020. — Tomorrow in Brief, Nov- D e c 2 0 0 4, p . 2
  • 639. 639 U.S. science and engineering classes will be dominated by foreign students. In 1999, foreign-born students made up half of all engineering, mathematics, and computer science graduates in the U n i t e d S ta t e s , u p f r o m o n e - t h i r d i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & Forecasts, Nov-Dec 2004, p. 9 U . S . p u b l i c e du c a t i o n w i l l f a c e a n u p h i l l b a t t l e f o r s u r v iv a l . S ta t e s now spend only a tenth of the $322 billion that will be needed to r e pa i r a i l i n g s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u i l d n e w f a c i l i t i e s w h e r e t h e y a re n e e d e d , a n d o u t f i t s c h o o l s w i t h m o d e r n technology, according to the National Education Association. One result could be an acceleration of the trend toward more private- and home-schooled kids. — John C. Lundt, “Learning for Ou r s e l v e s : A N e w P a r a d i g m f o r E d u c a t i o n , ” N o v - De c 2 0 0 4 , p . 2 0 The classroom of the future will have no walls, no clocks, and no a ge s e g r e g a t i o n . M o r e a n d m o r e h i g h - s c h o o l s t u d e n t s a r e l e a v i n g t h e c la s s r o o m i n f a v o r o f a g e - d i v e r s e w o r k s h o p s a n d s e m i n a r s t h a t f oc u s o n t h e i r s p e c i f i c i n t e r e s t s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e t r a d i t i o n a l 9 - t o - 3 s c h o o l d a y w i l l f a de a s m o r e s t u d e n t s l e a r n t o t a ke a dv a n ta g e o f r e a l - t i m e t e c h n o l o g y a n d t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f d i s t a n c e e du c a t i o n t o s c h e d u l e t h e i r “ c l a s s ” s e s s i o n s o n t h e i r o w n t e r m s . — J o h n C. Lundt, “Learning for Ourselves: A New Paradigm for Education,” Nov-Dec 2004, p. 22
  • 640. 640 Instant messaging and e-mail will bring kids to the head of the class. Cell phones and personal digital assistants might be considered distractions to some teachers, but in one trial at Kansas State University, such d e v ic e s helped some students become more actively engaged with teachers and classmates. In d i g i t a l l y e n h a n c e d c la s s r o o m s , i n s t r u c t o r s w i l l b e a b l e t o g i v e r e a l - time quizzes and get instant feedback so they can adjust their l e s s o n p la n s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 5 , p . 9 ENVIRONMENT U r b a n h e a t w a v e s w i l l g e t h o t t e r a n d la s t l o n g e r . L a r g e u r b a n c e n t e r s l i k e C h i c a g o a n d P a r i s w i l l e x pe r i e n c e a n a v e r a g e o f 2 5 % more heat waves a year in the twenty-first century compared with the twentieth, according to the U. S . National Center for A t m o s p h e r i c R e s e a r c h . A n d t h o s e h e a t w a v e s w i l l la s t , o n a v e ra g e , n i n e d a y s l o n g e r . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 4 , p . 7 D e s i g n e r p l a n t s w i l l b e m o r e s a l t t o l e r a n t , r e d u c in g s t r a i n s o n f re s h w a t e r s u p p l i e s . A g r i c u l t u ra l r e s e a r c h e r s in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a re s t u d y i n g a r a n g e o f s a l t - t o l e r a n t , o r h a l o p h y t i c , f l o w e r s . C o m m e r c i a l s p e c i e s o f f l o w e r s t h a t c a n g r o w in s a l t y e n v i r o n m e n t s c ou l d r e d u c e c o s t s f o r t h e c u t - f l o w e r i n d u s t r y , p r e s e r v e f r e s h w a t e r
  • 641. 641 f o r m o r e c r i t i c a l u se s , a n d i m p r o v e t h e e f f ic i e n c y o f n u r s e r i e s . T he n e w t e c h n o l o g y w i l l b e o f pa r t i c u l a r b e n e f i t t o p la n t g r o w e r s i n c oa s t a l r e g i o n s w h o mu s t c o n t i n u a l l y c o n t e n d w i t h s a l t wa t e r s e e p i n g i n t o f re s h w a t e r s o u r c e s . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J a n - F e b 2 0 0 5, p . 6 Cell phones for compost. Discarded cell phones are a growing e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m , s o r e s e a r c h e r s i n t h e Un i t e d K i n g d o m h a v e d e v e l o p e d p h o n e s w i t h b i o d e g r a d a b l e m a t e r ia l s . T h e y e v e n implanted a seed in the phone casing so that eventually flowers w i l l b l o o m f r o m t h e a b a n d o n e d d e v i c e s . — T o m o r r o w in B r ie f , M a r - Apr 2005, p. 2 U n d o i n g h u m a n s ’ d a m a g e t o l a ke s c ou l d ta k e a t h o u s a n d y e a r s . Extensive fertilizer use in the past six decades has led to a buildup o f p h o s p h o r u s i n s o i l s t h a t r u n s o f f in t o l a ke s a n d c h o k e s o f f t h e i r oxygen. The damage, called eutrophication, is so extensive that it c ou l d t a k e a m i l l e n n i u m t o r e p a i r . P r o p o s e d s o l u t i o n s i n c l u d e m a i n t a i n i n g l a r g e r b u f f e r s b e t w e e n la k e l a n d s a n d a g r ic u l t u r a l l a n d a n d r e s t o r i n g w e t l a n d s . — T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 5 , p. 2 HEALTH
  • 642. 642 Vaccines against the rotavirus could save thousands of the world’s children in the next decade. Children in developing countries c o n t r a c t t h e r o t a v i r u s a t a y o u n g e r a ge , a n d a t g r e a t e r r a t e s , t h a n d o c h i l d r e n o f i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c ou n t r i e s . N e a r l y 9 5 % o f c h i l d r e n worldwide are infected by five years of age, and nearly half a m i l l i o n c h i l d r e n a c r o s s t h e w o r l d d i e o f r o t a v i r u s e a c h ye a r . V a c c i n e s c u r r e n t l y u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t c ou l d b e in c o r p o r a t e d i n t o routine childhood immunization programs within three years, according to the Pan American Health Organization. — World T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - D e c 2 0 0 4 , p. 1 4 P e o p l e w i l l e n j o y b e t t e r s e x , a n d d o s o f o r m a n y m o r e ye a r s . Researchers at S ta n f o r d Un i v e r s i t y and corporations like Immersion are developing virtual-reality technologies that promise to radically augment our sex l iv e s . Du e to changing social attitudes, our discussions about sex will be more open, more tolerant, better informed, and less chauvinistic. Additionally, because medical technology will likely expand the average life span b e y o n d t h e a g e o f 9 5 , t h e a v e ra g e p e r s o n i n t h e f u tu r e w i l l b e sexually active for almost 80 years. — Eric Garland, “Reinventing S e x : N e w T e c h n o l o g i e s a n d C h a n g i n g A t t i t u d e s , ” N o v - De c 2 0 0 4 , p . 42
  • 643. 643 Osteoporosis epidemic ahead. By 2020, half of all Americans could b e a t r i s k f o r f ra c t u r e s d u e t o o s t e o p o r o s i s o r l o w b o n e m a s s . R e s e a r c h e r s b e l i e v e t h a t f a r m o r e pe o p l e h a v e t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a n a re diagnosed with it. B on e diseases that impair physical movement often precipitate a health decline, and about 20% of s e n i o r c i t i z e n s w h o s u f f e r a h i p f r a c t u r e d i e w i t h i n a ye a r . P r e v e n t i o n i n c l u d e s a d i e t r i c h w i t h c a l c i u m a n d v i t a m i n D, 3 0 m i n u t e s a d a y o f p h y s i c a l a c t iv i t y , a n d ma i n t a i n i n g a h e a l t h y w e i g h t . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - Ap r 2 0 0 5, p . 1 1 Healthy bodies yield smarter brains. Kids who are more physically f i t m a y p e rf o r m b e t t e r o n a c a d e m i c t e s t s t h a n t h e i r m o r e s e d e n ta r y pe e r s . B r a i n r e s e a r c h e r s h a v e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t f i t t e r c h i l d r e n c a n process stimuli more quickly and make fewer errors on tests than l e s s - f i t k i d s , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t p h y s i c a l a c t iv i t y c o u l d h a v e a p o s i t i v e r o l e i n e du c a t i o n . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p . 11 U . S . n u r s i n g h o m e s c ou l d b e o f f s h o r e d , a n d a g in g b a b y b o o m e r s may increasingly become medical tourists. A shortage of health- care workers in the United States and a highly mobile culture will l e a d f u tu r e s e n i o r c i t i z e n s t o h i t t h e r o a d f o r t h e i r h e a l t h . E l d e r l y pa t i e n t s s e e k i n g b o t h c h r o n i c a n d a c u t e h e a l t h c a r e w i l l t r a v e l t o f a c i l i t i e s i n l o w e r - c o s t d e v e l o p i n g c ou n t r i e s t h a t h a v e i n c r e a s i n g l y
  • 644. 644 s o p h i s t i c a t e d m e d i c a l s e r v ic e s . — K o n r a d M . K r e s s l e y , “ A g i n g a n d Public Institutions,” Sep-Oct 2005, p. 32 A l z h e i m e r ’ s : T he b a d n e w s a b o u t l i v i n g l o n g e r . A s l if e s p a n s i n c r e a s e , m o r e p e o p l e a re s u r v iv i n g i n t o t h e ye a r s m o s t p r o n e t o Alzheimer’s disease. In developed countries, about 2% of the p o p u la t i o n i s a f f e c t e d . B y 2 0 5 4 , t h e r e m a y b e t h r e e t i m e s a s m a n y Alzheimer’s patients. — Tyler A. Kokjohn and Kimbal E. Cooper, “ T h e Ou t l o o k f o r A l z h e i m e r ’ s D i s e a s e , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 5 , p . 3 4 Better understanding of Alzheimer’s causes could lead to p r e v e n t i o n . R e s e a r c h e r s a r e g a i n in g a c l e a r e r p i c t u r e o f t h e c a u s e s u n d e r l y i n g A l z h e i m e r ’ s d i s e a s e , w h i c h m a n y n o w b e l i e v e i s l i n ke d to the same kinds of plaques that clog arteries. Actions to prevent atherosclerosis, such as improving diet and fitness, may thus also help prevent Alzheimer’s. — Tyler A. Kokjohn and Kimbal E. Cooper, “The Outlook for Alzheimer’s Disease,” Sep-Oct 2005, p. 36 Death by global warming. Climate changes alone could cause a 4 . 5 % i n c r e a s e i n t h e n u m b e r o f s u m m e r o z o n e - r e la t e d d e a t h s i n t h e N e w Y o r k m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a b y 2 0 5 0 . — F u t u r i s t U p d a t e , De c 2004
  • 645. 645 L i f e e x p e c t a n c y i n t h e U . S . c ou l d r e v e r s e d u e t o t h e o b e s i t y epidemic. Predictions about Social Security’s tenuous future don’t consider the possible effects of rising obesity, now poised to begin reversing a long-term trend toward increased longevity in the U n i t e d S t a t e s . L i f e e x p e c t a n c y m a y s h o r t e n b y t w o t o f i v e ye a r s b y the middle of the century, and the dramatic rise in obesity is c o n s i d e r e d t h e p r i m a r y c u l p r i t . — Fu t u r i s t U p d a t e , Ap r 2 0 0 5 INFORMATION SOCIETY The Digital Era arises. Digital media will dominate communications by 2010, altering all aspects of human culture. The Digital Era will be characterized by interconnectivity, complexity, acceleration of human activity, convergence of media, a n d r i s i n g s i g n i f i c a n c e o f in t a n g i b l e s s u c h a s r e p u ta t i o n . — M . R e x M i l le r , “ T h e D i g i t a l D y n a m i c : H o w C o m m u n i c a t i o n s M e d i a S h a p e Ou r W o r l d , ” M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 5 , p. 3 3 F u t u r e r e a d e r s w i l l h a v e a c c e s s t o a m o r e a bu n d a n t a n d d i v e r s e a r r a y o f t e x t s . Ra p i d p r o g r e s s i n t r a n s l a t i n g t e c h n o l o g y i s b r i n g i n g us ever closer to the day when it will be possible to read anything e v e r “ p u b l i s h e d ” b y a n y o n e a t a n y t i m e o f d a y o r n i g h t . On l i n e textbook sites will come to replace more traditional textbooks, which are already on the way out altogether. — Parker Rossman,
  • 646. 646 “Beyond the Book: Electronic Textbooks Will Bring Worldwide Learning,” Jan-Feb 2005, p. 19 Forget research—get a searchbot. Digital e le c t r o n i c assistant programs that surf the Net and store information on our behalf will be must-have items in the future. These “searchbots” will enable individuals to a ma s s entire pe r s o n a l digital libraries around a given subject without having to do anything but set a few key search guidelines. — Parker Rossman, “Beyond the Book: E l e c t r o n i c T e x t b o o k s W i l l B r in g W o r l d w i d e L e a r n i n g , ” J a n - F e b 2005, p. 22 The rise of podcasting. The nascent satellite-radio business has already sent commercial radio into a sweat, but now podcasting c ou l d g i v e s a t e l l i t e r a d i o a r u n f o r i t s m o n e y . W i t h l o w e r u se r c o s t s a n d m o r e p o r t a b i l i t y t h a n s a t e l l i t e s e r v ic e s , s u b s c r i p t i o n - b a s e d podcasts allow music and other programming to be sent directly to consumers’ players and let the audience choose what to hear and w h e n . P o d c a s t i n g c ou l d r e a c h 1 2 . 3 m i l l i o n U . S . h o u s e h o l d s b y 2 0 1 0 . — T o m o r r o w i n B r i e f , J u l y - Au g 2 0 0 5 , p. 2 RESOURCES
  • 647. 647 O c e a n - b a s e d e n e r g y i s t h e w a v e o f t h e f u tu r e . C u r r e n t a n d potential markets for offshore wind and tidal power will grow c o n s i d e r a b l y i n t h e n e x t f iv e y e a r s . R e s e a r c h e r s h a v e p r o j e c t e d 5 , 8 0 0 m e g a wa t t s o f o f f s h o r e r e n e w a b l e - e n e r g y c a p a c i t y w i l l b e installed between 2004 and 2008, of which 99% will be in the form of offshore wind farms. Worldwide, the offshore wind market is expected to grow to $3 billion a year by 2008. — Anthony T. Jones a n d A d a m W e s t w o o d , “ P o w e r f r o m O c e a n s , ” J a n - Fe b 2 0 0 5 , p . 3 7 Pulling the plug on electric utilities. T he rise of hydrogen technologies that give households and businesses more energy i n d e pe n d e n c e c o u l d s e n d u t i l i t i e s s c r a m b l i n g . E n e r g y m a y b e c o m e a “cottage industry” as companies add an assortment of technologies to their portfolios, including solar, wind, wave, and biomass sources for powering their own hydrogen production. — W a y n e A . E n g l i s h , “ A r e E l e c t r i c U t i l i t i e s O b s o l e t e ? ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5, p. 16 T h e c l e a n - e n e r g y e c o n o m y i s c o m i n g . T h e r e i s o n l y a b o u t 4 0 ye a r s ’ w o r t h o f o i l le f t i n t h e g r o u n d , s o a c t i o n i s n e e d e d n o w t o p la n f o r a smooth transition to alternatives, notably hydrogen, according to i n du s t r y a n a l y s t s . A t h r e e - p h a s e s t r a t e g y f o r l a u n c h i n g t h e w o r l d into the Hydrogen Age would include deploying all currently available energy technologies and expanding research, then
  • 648. 648 expanding the hydrogen infrastructure beyond core cities, and then transforming entire societies into hydrogen consumers and p r o v i d e r s . — J u l i a n G r e s s e r a n d J a m e s A. Cu s u m a n o , “ H y d r o g e n and the New Energy Economy,” Mar-Apr 2005, p. 19 Less supply, more demand for food will threaten the global e c o n o m y . A s t h e w o r l d e c o n o m y c o n t i n u e s e x p a n d i n g , f u tu r e p o p u la t i o n s w i l l d e m a n d a h i g h e r q u a l i t y o f f o o d . B u t m e e t i n g t h a t demand will be problematic, as farmers leave the profession for richer opportunities in cities and as climate warming impairs productivity of dwindling agricultural lands. — Lester R. Brown, “Pushing Beyond the Earth’s Limits,” May-June 2005, p. 18 P o w e r p l a n t s a n d g r e e n h o u s e s c ou l d d o u b l e a s d e s a l i n a t i o n p la n t s . As the demand for fresh water increases worldwide, desalination p la n t s will need to dramatically improve their e f f ic i e n c y . Researchers have recently demonstrated a system that can process s a l t wa t e r i n t o f re s h u s i n g e x c e s s h e a t f r o m e le c t r i c p o w e r p l a n t s . In another system, seawater u se d to cool condensers in a g r e e n h o u s e i s t h e n c o n v e r t e d in t o f r e s h w a t e r . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , J u l y - A u g 2 0 0 5 , p. 1 2 S u p e rc o n d u c t i n g s o l u t i o n f o r m e e t i n g t o m o r r o w ’ s e n e r g y d e m a n d . G l o b a l d e m a n d f o r e n e r g y w i l l l i k e l y d o u b l e i n t h e n e x t 5 0 ye a r s .
  • 649. 649 One proposed solution for meeting this growing demand without destroying the environment in the process is to build a s u pe r c o n d u c t i n g p i p e l i n e , o r S u pe r G r i d , t h a t w o u l d t r a n s p o r t e le c t r i c i t y instead of pe t r o l e u m . T he key is the use of s u pe r c o n d u c t i n g c a b l e s , w h i c h w o u l d b e b u r i e d u n d e r g r o u n d t o p r o v i d e m o r e p r o t e c t i o n a ga i n s t w e a t h e r - r e la t e d b l a c k o u t s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 5, p . 7 SECURITY AND TERRORISM T e r r o r i s t a c t s w i l l b e c o m e m o r e f r e q u e n t , m o r e v i o l e n t . T h e f o rc e s contributing to militancy in Muslim la n d s — o v e r c r o w d i n g , underemployment, and resource s c a rc i t y — a r e becoming more s e v e r e . B e c a u s e W e s t e r n n a t i o n s ’ p o l i c i e s a r e o f t e n p e r c e iv e d a s t h e u n de r l y i n g c a u se s o f t h e s e p r o b l e m s , c o u n t r i e s s u c h a s t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s s h o u l d e x p e c t t o b e t h e t a r g e t s o f m o r e a c t s o f t e r r o r i s m f o r a t le a s t t h e n e x t 2 0 ye a r s . — M a rv i n J . Ce t r o n a n d Owen Davies, “Trends Now Shaping the F u tu r e : Economic, S oc i e t a l , a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l T r e n d s , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p. 3 3 G l o b a l pa r t n e r s h i p s a ga i n s t t e r r o r i s m w i l l g r o w s t r o n g e r . T h o u g h n a t i o n s w i l l l i k e l y c o n t i n u e t o b i c ke r o v e r t r a d e , t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d f o r e i g n p o l i c y , t h e y w i l l in c r e a s i n g l y c o o p e r a t e t o c u r b t e r r o r i s m a n d r e v e r s e n u c le a r p r o l i f e r a t i o n . T h e in t e l l i g e n c e a n d
  • 650. 650 police departments of more than 170 nations already work together to share information about terror suspects and coordinate a n t i t e r r o r i s t i n i t i a t i v e s . F if t y - f i v e n a t i o n s h a v e c ha n g e d t h e i r d o m e s t i c l a w s t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e g l o b a l pu r s u i t o f t e r r o r i s t s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 4 , p . 1 2 F r i g h t e n e d o u t o f o u r p r i v a c y ? S e c u r i t y m a y t r u m p p r iv a c y in t h e a ge o f t e r r o r i s m . F e a r o f b o t h t e r r o r i s m a n d v i o l e n t c r i m e h a s c o n t r i b u t e d t o g r o w i n g a c c e p t a n c e o f s u r v e i l la n c e i n pu b l i c a re a s . In Britain, some 1.5 million surveillance cameras now monitor a w i d e r a n g e o f pu b l i c a r e a s , i n c l u d i n g s c h o o l s , o f f i c e b u i l d i n g s , s t r e e t s , a n d s h o p s . — M a r v in J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n Da v i e s , “ T r e n d s N o w S ha p i n g t h e F u t u r e : E c o n o m i c , S o c i e t a l , a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l T re n d s , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p. 3 7 S ma r t surveillance cameras could thwart crime. Future surveillance cameras will not only catch a criminal, but also stop t h e c u l p r i t f r o m c o m m i t t i n g a c r i m e . C l o s e d - c i r c u i t c a me r a s e qu i p p e d with expert-system image analysis will be able to recognize unusual activity, such as violent behavior or glass breaking. Then the smart cameras will call the police to investigate. — World Trends & Forecasts, May-June 2005, p. 10 Technologies may help militarize the police. High-tech “spyware” and other surveillance equipment u se d by the military will
  • 651. 651 increasingly ma k e its way into policing, in c lu d i n g global positioning satellites and unmanned aerial drones. This will keep officers safer and enable them to track suspects more easily, but p r i v a t e c i t i z e n s m a y d e m a n d g r e a t e r a c c ou n t a b i l i t y a n d e t h i c s i n la w e n f o r c e m e n t . — G e n e S t e p h e n s , “ P o l i c i n g t h e F u tu r e : L a w Enforcement’s New Challenges,” Mar-Apr 2005, p. 55 L a s e r s c o u l d s o o n b e u s e d t o d e t e c t e x p l o s i v e s s a f e l y, qu i c k l y , a n d i n e x p e n s i v e l y . A t e a m o f Un i v e r s i t y o f F l o r i d a r e s e a r c h e r s h a s d e v e l o p e d a n e w d e v i c e t h a t d e t e c t s T NT u s i n g p h o t o l u m i n e s c e n c e spectroscopy—casting light on objects and measuring the w a v e l e n g t h o f t h e l i g h t t h a t r e t u r n s . T he t e c h n o l o g y c o u l d a l l o w security professionals to identify explosives faster, more a c c u r a t e l y , a n d a t s a f e r d i s t a n c e s . — T o m o r r o w in B r i e f , J a n - Fe b 2005, p. 2 Combating radicalism with moderation. To reduce the threat of terrorism, the RAND Corporation recommends that the international community and moderates within Muslim nations step up to foster reform in schools and mosques, promote international networks for liberal and moderate Muslims, and expand economic opportunities for y ou n g people in Muslim c ou n t r i e s . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 5 , p . 1 7
  • 652. 652 S e c u r i t y t h r e a t s e x t e n d b e y o n d c i t i e s . F u tu r e t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k s m a y t a r g e t r u r a l a re a s a n d n o t j u s t c i t i e s . A m o n g t h e m o s t p la u s i b l e o r d e v a s t a t i n g a t t a c k s i d e n t i f i e d b y U. S . Department of Homeland Security: • Blowing up chlorine tanks. • Spreading disease in airports, sports venues, and train stations. • Infecting livestock with diseases. • D e t o n a t i n g a n u c le a r d e v ic e in a m a j o r c i t y . • Re l e a s i n g n e rv e g a s i n a n o f f i c e b u i l d i n g . • Bombing a sports arena. —Futurist Update, Apr 2005 TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE N a n o m e d i c s w i l l c o m e t o t h e a i d o f w o u n d e d s o l d i e r s . R e s e a rc h e r s at MIT are developing nanobots as part of an Objective Force W a r r i o r P r o g r a m . T he s e m i c r o s c o p i c r o b o t s m a y o n e d a y b e a b l e t o transport specific drugs directly to affected tissue to perform p r e c i s i o n e l i m i n a t i o n o f d a m a g e d c e l l s . N a n o b o t s c ou l d a l s o broadcast timely information about a soldier’s health to medics m i l e s a w a y . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , N o v - De c 2 0 0 4, p . 1 6
  • 653. 653 Let there be light-emitting diodes. E n e r g y - e f f i c ie n t s u n l i g h t - simulating LEDs will provide 90% of the world’s lighting by 2025. LEDs last 20 times as long as ordinary light bulbs. Because they u se g a l l i u m n i t r i d e r a t h e r t h a n e x p e n s i v e s a p p h i r e , t h e y c o u l d c u t i n h a l f t h e c o s t o f l i g h t i n g h o m e s a n d o f f ic e s . — T o m o r r o w i n Brief, Mar-Apr 2005, p. 2 Interactive reality TV will make you the star. The next generation o f i n t e r a c t i v e v i d e o t e c h n o l o g y w i l l b l e n d t h e v ie w e r ’ s i m a g e d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e a c t i o n o n s c r e e n . A c a me r a p o i n t e d a t t h e v ie w e r w o u l d t a k e t h a t i m a g e a n d s u pe r i m p o s e i t d i g i t a l l y in t o a v i d e o p la y i n g o n t e l e v i s i o n . S u c h t e c h n o l o g y c ou l d a l s o i m p r o v e t r a i n i n g of doctors, athletes, soldiers, and others who could benefit from t h e r e a l i s t i c s i m u l a t i o n s . — T o m o r r o w i n B r ie f , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 5 , p. 2 Roll-up displays for TV, cell phones, pocket computers. Flexible e le c t r o n i c t h i n f i l m c ou l d s o o n m a k e i t e a s y t o r o l l u p t h e T V o r c o m p u t e r m o n i t o r a n d pu t i t o u t o f t h e wa y . E l e c t r o n i c pa p e r u s i n g t h e t h i n - f i l m d i s p l a y t e c h n o l o g y w o u l d a l s o b e u se d i n s i g n s t h a t need to be changed quickly, such as in-store displays or traffic n o t i c e s . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 0 5, p . 9
  • 654. 654 Fly us to the Moon. Lunar vacations may become a reality by the 2020s, creating all new industries and jobs. Public-sector thinking about space commercialization has traditionally focused on m a n u f a c tu r i n g , e n e r g y p r o d u c t i o n , a n d t h e l i k e , b u t p r i v a t e - s e c t o r d e v e l o p m e n t o f s p a c e t o u r i s m i s m o r e l i k e l y t o c a p tu r e t h e p u b l i c ’ s i m a g i n a t i o n , p r o p o n e n t s b e l ie v e . — W o r l d T r e n d s & F o r e c a s t s , May-June 2005, p. 11 S ma r t e r , s a f e r , c l e a n e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . A u t o m o b i l e d e s i g n e r s w i l l p r o d u c e m o r e - e f f i c i e n t v e h i c le s , a n d b y d o i n g s o w i l l b e g i n t o reduce the demand for oil by 2008. Smart-car technologies will also begin reducing deaths due to automobile accidents in Europe b y 2 0 1 0 , a n d i n t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s s l i g h t l y l a t e r . — M a rv i n J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , “ T r e n d s N o w S h a p in g t h e Fu t u r e : Technological, Workplace, Management, and Institutional Trends,” May-June 2005, p. 39 Dining with nanotech. Among the possible uses for f u tu r e nanotechnology will be to rearrange the atoms of materials in the w a s t e s t r e a m i n t o c o n s u ma b l e p r o d u c t s l i k e m i l k . C o u n t e r t o p s y n t h e s i z e r s c ou l d o n e d a y c r e a t e m e a t s a n d v e g e t a b l e s w i t h o u t killing animals or destroying habitats. Food would be synthesized w i t h t h e c o r r e c t v i t a m i n s a n d m i n e r a l s , a n d e v e n c re a t e d a l r e a d y
  • 655. 655 cooked. — J. Storrs Hall, “What’s Next for Nanotechnology,” July- Aug 2005, p. 29 “ S u p e r T e c h ” s c e n a r i o : D r u g s , n o t e x e r c i s e . W h o n e e d s a pe r s o n a l t r a i n e r w h e n d r u g s c a n k e e p u s f i t ? I n a “ S u pe r T e c h ” s c e n a r i o , p h a r m a c e u t i c a l t e c h n o l o g i e s c o u l d b e s o a dv a n c e d b y 2 0 5 0 t h a t h u m a n s m a y n e v e r n e e d e x e r c i s e a g a in , s u g g e s t J o e l B a r ke r a n d S c o t t W . E r i c k s o n , a u t h o r s o f F i v e R e g i o n s o f t h e Fu t u r e . — “ R a c i n g T o w a r d a S u pe r - T e c h Fu t u r e ? ” B o o k R e v ie w , J u l y - A u g 2005, p. 59 V i r t u a l m i r r o r r e v e a l s y o u r f u tu r e s e l f . W h a t w i l l y o u r l i f e s t y l e choices today do to your looks in the future? A new simulation tool c re a t e d b y A c c e n t u r e T e c h n o l o g y ’ s la b o r a t o r y in F ra n c e p r o d u c e s a digital visualization of what junk food, excess alcohol, and lack of exercise will do to your looks. One goal of the “virtual mirror” is to r e v e a l t h e f u tu r e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f c h o i c e s a n d b e h a v i o r s t h a t c a n b e a l t e r e d n o w . — F u tu r i s t U p d a t e , M a r 2 0 0 5 VALUES AND LIFESTYLES M o r e p o r n o g r a p h y , b u t a w a n i n g p o r n o g r a p h y i n d u s t r y . A ma t e u r and f re e l a n c e pornography producers will t a ke advantage of ubiquitous broadband Internet service and inexpensive camera and
  • 656. 656 v i d e o e qu i p m e n t t o p r o d u c e a d u l t m a t e r i a l m o r e c h e a p l y a n d d i s t r i b u t e i t m o r e w i d e l y . Fu t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s w i l l r e a c h s e x u a l maturity with full access to as much erotic material as they want. — Eric Garland, “Reinventing Sex: New Technologies and Changing Attitudes,” Nov-Dec 2004, p. 44 Fewer people will participate in team sports. The demise of the standard working day implies that fewer people will share the same off time. This will prevent clubs and teams from forming or operating in the manner they do currently. The continued rise of i n d i v i d u a l i s m w i l l f u r t h e r a c c e le r a t e t h e s h i f t a w a y f r o m g r o u p a n d team activities. — Robin Gunston, “Play Ball! How Sports Will C h a n g e i n t h e 2 1 s t C e n t u r y , ” J a n - F e b 2 0 0 5 , p. 3 5 T re n d o f t w o - i n c o m e c ou p l e s m a y b e r e v e r s i n g . M a r r i a g e s in w h i c h b o t h s p o u s e s a r e e m p l o y e d h a v e b e c o m e t h e n o r m in W e s t e r n economies, but the trend may have peaked—and even begun to reverse. The proportion of married-couple U.S. households in which both husband and wife worked fell from 53.4% in 1997 to 50.9% in 2003. However, the proportion of those households in which only the wife worked has risen three years in a row. Future w o r k i n g c ou p l e s m a y b e m o r e l i k e l y t o t a k e t u r n s i n t h e w o r k f o r c e r a t h e r t h a n w o r k i n g a t t h e s a m e t i m e . — M a r v in J . C e t r o n a n d O w e n D a v i e s , “ T r e n d s N o w S h a p i n g t h e F u tu r e : T e c h n o l o g i c a l ,
  • 657. 657 Workplace, Management, and Institutional Trends,” May-June 2005, p. 45 D a d s m a y t a k e o v e r m o r e a t - h o m e c a re g i v i n g . A s m a l l b u t g r o w i n g c o n t i n g e n t o f s t a y - a t - h o m e f a t h e r s m a y s e t a n e w pa t t e r n f o r f u t u r e f a m i l y l i f e . I n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s , f e w e r t h a n 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 f a t h e r s stay at home full time in order to take care of the kids, but r e s e a rc h s h o w s t h a t s u c h a r r a n g e m e n t s h a v e i m p o r t a n t b e n e f i t s , s u c h a s t h e f o r m a t i o n o f l o n g e r - la s t i n g b o n d s b e t w e e n f a t h e r a n d child. And unlike with working dads, the mothers who are e m p l o y e d o u t s i d e t h e h o m e s t i l l m a i n t a in s t r o n g c on n e c t i o n s w i t h their kids. — World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2005, p. 12 E t h i c a l t r a v e le r s m a y l e a v e g e n t l e r f o o t p r i n t s . I n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a v e l i s o n t h e r i s e , a n d t h e i n d u s t r y i s n o w c a r v in g o u t a n e t h i c a l n ic h e f o r t o u r i s t s w h o w a n t t o v i s i t o t h e r p la c e s r e s p o n s i b l y . T y p e s o f ethical tourism on the rise in c lu d e ecotourism (visiting conservation sites), pro-poor tourism (engaging in experiences that benefit impoverished citizens of host sites), and responsible t o u r i s m ( m i n i m i z i n g n e g a t i v e i m pa c t s o n t h e l o c a l e n v i r o n m e n t a n d c u l t u r e ) . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , S e p - O c t 2 0 0 5 , p . 1 4 I n t h e f u t u r e , w e w i l l h a v e m o r e c o n t r o l o v e r o u r u se o f t i m e . More-flexible work schedules and 24-hour services will allow
  • 658. 658 pe o p l e t o c u s t o m i z e t h e i r d a i l y a n d w e e k l y u se o f t i m e , a n d technologies such as digital recorders will let people consume t e l e v i s i o n w h e n t h e y wa n t t o a n d n o t a c c o r d i n g t o b r o a d c a s t e r s ’ schedules. — John Robinson and Geoffrey Godbey, “Time in Our Ha n d s , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 5 , p . 2 2 In the future, we will have less control over our use of time. F a c t o r s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o i n c r e a s i n g t i m e s t r e s s i n t h e f u t u r e in c l u d e a growing elderly population that demands c a re g i v i n g from w o r k i n g a d u l t s , t e r r o r i s m a n d s e c u r i t y - r e l a t e d d e la y s a t p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s , a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n g r i d l o c k in in c r e a s i n g l y c o n g e s t e d u r b a n a n d s u b u r b a n a r e a s . — J o h n R o b i n s o n a n d G e of f r e y G o d b e y , “ T i m e i n O u r Ha n d s , ” S e p - Oc t 2 0 0 5 , p . 2 2 New technologies and social attitudes could lead to better ways to die. Until humans achieve immortality, they must still confront d e a t h . N e w t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d s o c i a l m o r e s a re o f f e r i n g b e t t e r w a y s to die: One proposal is “statutory death,” in which individuals approaching demise would be allowed to voluntarily withdraw from the world and enter a drug- or computer-enhanced “twilife” state of physical passivity with mental stimulation. — Lane Jennings, “ F i n d i n g B e t t e r W a y s t o Di e , ” M a r - A p r 2 0 0 5 , p. 4 6 V i r t u a l He a l t h : S m a r t e r E n v i r o n m e n t s W i l l Ke e p a n E y e Ou t f o r U s
  • 659. 659 M o r e d o c t o r s a n d h o s p i t a l s w i l l m a k e u se o f w i r e l e s s t e c h n o l o g i e s such as wearable computers and mattresses embedded with sensors t o c a r e f o r pa t i e n t s . T h i s t e c h n o l o g y w i l l a l l o w f o r m o r e c o n s t a n t and reliable monitoring of patients’ vital signs. As a result, busy n u r s e s w i l l b e f r e e d f r o m t h e d u t y o f h a v i n g t o c o n s t a n t l y e n su r e t h a t pa t i e n t s a r e c o n n e c t e d t o E K G s . — W o r l d T re n d s & F o r e c a s t s , Nov-Dec 2004, p. 16 Laptop “doctors” will monitor our vital signs on the go. Your f u t u r e c e l l p h o n e o r l a p t o p c o m pu t e r c ou l d h e l p y o u t r a c k y o u r vital signs and communicate with the doctor whenever something’s amiss. A portable device will monitor your breathing and heart rate via wireless signals, then transmit the information in real time to medical personnel through a cell phone or Internet connection. — Futurist Update, June 2005 The walls will have ears—and eyes, and a tongue to tattle with. S e n s o r s e m b e d d e d i n t h i n m a t e r i a l s c ou l d k e e p t r a c k o f t h e v i t a l s i g n s o f a r o o m ’ s o c c u pa n t s . O n e p o s s i b l e a p p l i c a t i o n w o u l d b e f o r p r i s o n s : S ma r t j a i l c e l l s w o u l d r e p o r t w h e n a n i n m a t e i s h a v i n g a m e d i c a l p r o b l e m o r w h e n i n c r e a s e s in b l o o d p r e s s u r e o r b r a i n - w a v e a c t i v i t y wa r n o f i m p e n d i n g v i o l e n c e . — W o r l d T re n d s & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2005, p. 6
  • 660. 660 End of Literal citation of The Futurist Magazine’s Top-10 Forecast for 2010. [97] CHAPTER 8 GLOSSARY B B re a k t h r o u g h 1 . A n a c t o f o v e rc o m i n g o r pe n e t r a t i n g a n o b s t a c l e o r r e s t r i c t i o n . 2. A military offensive that penetrates an enemy's lines of defense. 3 . A m a j o r a c h i e v e m e n t o r s u c c e s s t h a t pe r m i t s f u r t h e r p r o g r e s s , as in technology. Bibliography on B re a k t h r o u g h : http://www.thefreedictionary.com/breakthrough F F u z z y l o g i c i s a f o r m o f m u l t i - v a lu e d l o g i c d e r iv e d f r o m f u z z y s e t theory to deal with reasoning that is approximate rather than precise. In contrast with “crisp logic”, where binary sets have binary logic, fuzzy logic variables may have a truth value that
  • 661. 661 ranges between 0 and 1 and is not constrained to the two truth v a lu e s o f c la s s i c p r o p o s i t i o n a l l o g i c . [ 1 3 6 ] Fu r t h e r m o r e , w h e n l i n gu i s t i c v a r i a b l e s a r e u s e d , t h e s e d e g r e e s m a y b e m a n a g e d b y specific functions. Fuzzy logic emerged as a consequence of the 1965 proposal of fuzzy s e t t h e o r y b y L o t f i Z a d e h . [ 2 ] [ 3] T h o u g h f u z z y l o g i c h a s b e e n applied to many fields, from control theory to a r t if i c i a l intelligence, it still remains controversial among most statisticians, who prefer B a ye s i a n logic, and some control engineers, who prefer traditional two-valued logic. F u z z y l o g i c a n d p r o b a b i l i s t i c l o g i c a re m a t h e m a t i c a l l y s i m i l a r — b o t h h a v e t r u t h v a lu e s r a n g i n g b e t w e e n 0 a n d 1 — b u t c o n c e p t u a l l y distinct, due to different interpretations-see interpretations of probability theory. Fuzzy logic corresponds to “degrees of truth”, w h i l e p r o b a b i l i s t i c l o g i c c o r r e s p o n d s t o “ p r o b a b i l i t y , l i ke l i h o o d ” ; as these differ, fuzzy logic and probabilistic logic yield different models of the same real-world situations. Both degrees of truth and probabilities range between 0 and 1 and h e n c e m a y s e e m s i m i l a r a t f i r s t . F o r e x a m p l e , le t a 1 0 0 m l g l a s s c o n t a i n 3 0 m l o f w a t e r . T he n w e m a y c o n s i d e r t w o c o n c e p t s : E m p t y and Full. The meaning of each of them can be represented by a
  • 662. 662 c e r t a i n f u z z y s e t . T h e n o n e m i g h t d e f in e t h e g l a s s a s b e in g 0 . 7 empty and 0.3 full. Note that the concept of emptiness would be subjective and thus would depend on the observer or designer. A n o t h e r d e s i g n e r m i g h t e qu a l l y w e l l d e s i g n a s e t m e m b e r s h i p function where the glass would be considered full for all values d o w n t o 5 0 m l . I t i s e s s e n t i a l t o r e a l i ze t h a t f u z z y l o g i c u s e s t r u t h d e g r e e s a s a m a t h e m a t i c a l m o d e l o f t h e v a gu e n e s s p h e n o m e n o n while probability is a mathematical model of randomness. A p r o b a b i l i s t i c s e t t i n g w o u l d f i r s t d e f i n e a s c a la r v a r ia b l e f o r t h e fullness of the glass, and second, conditional distributions describing the probability that someone would call the glass full given a specific fullness level. This model, however, has no sense without accepting occurrence of some event, e.g. that after a few minutes, the glass will be half empty. Note that the conditioning c a n b e a c h i e v e d b y h a v i n g a s p e c if i c o b s e r v e r t h a t ra n d o m l y s e l e c t s t h e le v e l f o r t h e g l a s s , a d i s t r i b u t i o n o v e r d e t e r m i n i s t i c o b s e r v e r s , o r b o t h . C o n s e q u e n t l y , p r o b a b i l i t y h a s n o t h i n g in c o m m o n w i t h f u z z i n e s s , t h e s e a r e s i m p l y d i f f e r e n t c o n c e p t s w h i c h s u pe r f i c ia l l y s e e m s i m i l a r b e c a u s e o f u s in g t h e s a m e u n i t i n t e r v a l o f r e a l n u m b e r s [ 0 , 1] . S t i l l , s i n c e t h e o r e m s s u c h a s De M o r g a n ' s h a v e d u a l a p p l i c a b i l i t y a n d p r o p e r t i e s o f r a n d o m v a r ia b l e s a r e a n a l o g o u s t o properties of binary logic states, one can see where the confusion might arise. [90]
  • 663. 663 S S ta t e - o f - t h e - A r t The state-of-the-art is the highest level of development, as of a d e v i c e , t e c h n i q u e , o r s c i e n t i f ic f ie l d , a c h i e v e d a t a p a r t i c u l a r t i m e . It also applies to the level of development (as of a device, procedure, process, technique, or science) reached at any pa r t i c u l a r t i m e u su a l l y a s a r e s u l t o f m o d e r n m e t h o d s . The earliest usage of the term “state-of-the-art” documented by the Oxford English Dictionary dates back to 1910 from an engineering manual by Henry Harrison Suplee (1856-post 1943), an engineering graduate ( U. Of P e n n s y l v a n ia , 1876), titled Gas Turbine: progress in the design and construction of turbines operated by gases of combustion. It reads, “In the present state of the art this is all that can be done.” The highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or s c i e n t i f i c f i e l d , a c h i e v e d a t a pa r t i c u l a r t i m e : “ F o r t y o r f if t y y e a r s a g o t h e s t a t e o f t h e a r t i n r a d i o w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y c ra c k l i n g noises coming from a console of . . . Aztec-temple shape” (New Yorker).
  • 664. 664 T h e l e v e l o f k n o w l e d g e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a c h i e v e d in a t e c h n i q u e , science, etc. esp at present a d j ( p r e n o m i n a l) s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t . . . . t h e m o s t r e c e n t a n d t h e r e f o r e considered the best; up-to-the-minute a state-of-the-art amplifier S ou r c e t o S t a t e - o f - t h e - A r t : http://www.thefreedictionary.com/State+of+the+Art S t r a tu m , S t r a t a , S t r a t u m s n. pl. stra•ta (-t) or stra•tums 1 . A h o r i z o n t a l l a y e r o f m a t e r i a l , e s p e c ia l l y o n e o f s e v e r a l p a r a l l e l la y e r s a r ra n g e d o n e o n t o p o f a n o t h e r . 2. Geology A bed or l a ye r of sedimentary rock having approximately the same composition throughout. 3. Any of the regions of the atmosphere, such as the troposphere, that occur as layers. 4 . B i o l o g y A la y e r o f t i s s u e : t h e e p i t h e l i a l s t r a t u m . 5 . A l e v e l o f s o c i e t y c o m p o s e d o f pe o p l e w i t h s i m i l a r s o c i a l , cultural, or economic status.
  • 665. 665 6 . On e o f a n u m b e r o f l a y e r s , l e v e l s , o r d i v i s i o n s in a n o r g a n i z e d s y s t e m : a c o m p l e x p o e m w i t h ma n y s t r a t a o f m e a n i n g . S t r a tu m s o u r c e : h t t p : / / w w w . t h e f r e e d i c t i o n a r y . c o m / s t r a t u m Q Qu a n t u m m e c h a n i c s ( QM ) o r q u a n t u m p h y s i c s o r q u a n t u m t h e o r y , is a branch of physics that provides a mathematical description of much of the wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and m a t t e r t h a t d e pa r t f r o m c la s s i c a l m e c h a n i c s a t t h e a t o m i c a n d s u b a t o m i c s c a l e s . I n a dv a n c e d t o p i c s o f Q M , s o m e o f t h e s e b e h a v i o r s a r e m a c r o s c o p i c a n d e me r g e a t v e ry l o w o r v e r y h i g h energies or temperatures. The name derives from the observation t h a t s o m e p h y s i c a l q u a n t i t i e s - s u c h a s t h e a n gu l a r m o m e n t u m o f , o r more generally the action of, for example, an electron bound into a n a t o m o r m o l e c u le - c a n b e c h a n g e d o n l y b y d i s c r e t e a m o u n t s , o r quanta as multiples of the Planck constant, rather than being capable of varying continuously or by any arbitrary amount. An electron bound in an atomic orbital has quantized values of angular momentum while an unbound electron does not exhibit q u a n t i z e d e n e r g y le v e l s b u t t h e la t t e r i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a s h o r t
  • 666. 666 quantum mechanical wavelength. In the context of QM, the wave— pa r t i c l e d u a l i t y o f e n e r g y a n d m a t t e r a n d t h e u n c e r t a i n t y p r i n c i p le provide a unified view of the behavior of photons, electrons and other atomic-scale objects. T h e m a t h e m a t i c a l f o r m u l a t i o n s o f q u a n tu m m e c h a n i c s a re a b s t r a c t a n d t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s a r e o f t e n n o n - in t u i t i v e . T he c e n t e r p i e c e o f t h e m a t h e m a t i c a l s y s t e m i s t h e w a v e f u n c t i o n . T he w a v e f u n c t i o n i s a mathematical function that can provide information about the probability amplitude of position and momentum of a particle. M a t h e m a t i c a l m a n i pu l a t i o n s o f t h e wa v e f u n c t i o n u s u a l l y i n v o l v e the bra-ket notation, which requires an understanding of complex numbers and linear functionals. The wavefunction emphasizes the o b j e c t a s a q u a n t u m h a r m o n i c o s c i l l a t o r a n d t h e ma t h e m a t i c s i s akin to that of acoustics, resonance. Many of the results of QM do n o t h a v e m o d e l s t h a t a re e a s i l y v i s u a l i z e d i n t e r m s o f c la s s i c a l m e c h a n i c s ; f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e g r o u n d s t a t e in qu a n t u m m e c h a n ic a l m o d e l i s a n o n - z e r o e n e r g y s t a t e t h a t i s t h e l o w e s t pe r m i t t e d energy state of a system, rather than a more traditional system that is thought of as simply being at rest with zero kinetic energy. H i s t o r i c a l l y , t h e e a r l i e s t v e r s i o n s o f Q M w e r e f o r m u la t e d i n t h e first decade of the of the 20th century at around the same time as
  • 667. 667 the atomic theory and the corpuscular theory of light as updated by E i n s t e i n f i r s t c a m e t o b e w i d e l y a c c e p t e d a s s c i e n t i f ic f a c t ; t h e s e la t t e r t h e o r i e s c a n b e v i e w e d a s “ q u a n t u m t h e o r i e s ” o f m a t t e r a n d e le c t r o m a g n e t i c radiation. QM underwent a significant re- f o r m u l a t i o n i n t h e m i d - 1 9 2 0 ' s a wa y f r o m o l d q u a n tu m t h e o r y w i t h the acceptance of the Copenhagen interpretation. By 1930, QM had b e e n f u r t h e r u n i f i e d a n d f o r m a l i z e d b y t h e w o r k o f P a u l Di r a c a n d John von Neumann, with a greater emphasis p la c e d on measurement in quantum mechanics, the statistical nature of our knowledge of reality and philosophical speculation about the role o f t h e o b s e r v e r . Q M h a s s i n c e b r a n c h e d o u t in t o a l m o s t e v e r y aspect of 20th century physics and other disciplines such as q u a n t u m c h e m i s t r y , qu a n t u m e l e c t r o n i c s , q u a n t u m o p t i c s a n d quantum information science. Much of what might be considered 1 9 t h c e n t u r y p h y s i c s h a s b e e n , t o s o m e d e g r e e , r e - e v a lu a t e d in t e r m s o f Q M , i n p a r t i c u la r t h r o u g h q u a n t u m f i e l d t h e o r y a n d speculative quantum gravity theory. [90] Zillion An indeterminately huge number. S ou r c e t o z i l l i o n : h t t p : / / w w w . t h e f r e e d i c t i o n a r y . c o m / z i l l i o n CHAPTER 9
  • 668. 668 WHAT I’VE GIVEN YOU! I ’ v e g i v e n y o u a n d m y s e l f s o m e w a y s o f t h i n k i n g a n d p e r c e iv i n g this ever-impermanent world of ours in good faith and constructively. Clearly, whatever options over the table you have t h e b e t t e r , s i n c e I a m n o t g i v in g a n y o n e ─ d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y ─ a n y t y p e o f l e g a l a dv i c e . S e e k y o u r o w n e x p e r t a d v ic e a n d f i n d a professional of your own independent choice. I h o p e I h a v e g i v e n b o t h y o u a n d m y s e l f s o m e w a y o f e n t e r t a i n in g ( a ) t h i n k i n g a n d ( b) p e r c e i v i n g h o w r e f l e c t i o n i s b r o u g h t i n t o a c t i o n a n d e x e c u t i o n i n m a in l y c o m p l e x s e t t i n g s . Yet the most important task now, depending on your objectives, g o a l s a n d d e s i r e s , i s f o r y o u t o m a ke o r t o f a i l t o m a k e y o u r o w n r e s e a rc h a n d t o m a k e y o u r o w n c o n c lu s i o n s a s y o u c o m e u p w i t h said conclusions for and by yourself alone. CHAPTER 9 AN N O T A T E D B I B L I O G R A P H Y N B : A l l l i n k s a n d w e b a d d r e s s e s w e r e c he c k e d a n d v e r if i e d t o b e c o r r e c t a t t h e t i m e o f pu b l i c a t i o n . B e c a u s e o f t h e d y n a m i c n a t u r e
  • 669. 669 of the web, some addresses and links may have changed since pu b l i c a t i o n a n d m a y n o l o n g e r b e v a l i d . [ 1 ] E v e r y q u o t a t i o n a n d / o r c i ta t i o n i s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e m e n t i o n e d author of said quotation. [ 2 ] S i r F r a n c i s B a c o n ( O x f o r d D ic t i o n a r y o f Q u o t a t i o n s , I S B N : 0 - 19-866185-1 [ 3] D r . B e r t r a n d R u s s e l l ( O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s , I S B N : 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 6 1 8 5 - 1) [ 4 ] D r . A l b e r t E i n s t e i n ( Ox f o r d D ic t i o n a r y o f Q u o t a t i o n s , I S B N : 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 6 1 8 5 - 1) [ 5 ] D r. B u c k m i n s t e r F u l l e r ( O x f o r d Di c t i o n a r y o f Q u o t a t i o n s , ISBN: 0-19-866185-1) and at ‹brainyquotes.com› [ 6] F r i e d r i c h W i l h e l m N i e t z s c h e ( Ox f o r d D i c t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s , ISBN: 0-19-866185-1) and at ‹brainyquotes.com› [ 7] T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t a t ‹ b r a i n y q u o t e s . c o m › [ 8] R a l p h W a l d o E m e r s o n a t ‹ b r a i n y q u o t e s . c o m › [ 9] D r . M a l c o l m K n o w l e s a t ‹ b r a i n y qu o t e s . c o m › [10] Dr. Albert Einstein at ‹brainyquotes.com› [11] Thomas Jefferson at ‹brainyquotes.com› [ 1 2 ] D r . He n r y K i s s i n g e r a t ‹ b r a i n y q u o t e s . c o m › [13] Sir Winston Churchill at ‹brainyquotes.com› [ 1 4 ] A n t o n i o M a c h a d o f r o m O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s , ISBN: 0-19-866185-1.
  • 670. 670 [ 1 5 ] T he P a n c h a t a n t r a ( b o d y o f E a s t e r n p h i l o s o p h i c a l kn o w l e d g e ) from Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, ISBN: 0-19-866185-1. And at << http://bit.ly/bj0rI1 >> [ 1 6 ] B e r n a r d d ' E s p a g n a t f r o m Ox f o r d D i c t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s , ISBN: 0-19-866185-1. [ 1 7 ] P e t e r D r u c k e r f r o m Ox f o r d D i c t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s , I S B N : 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 6 1 8 5 - 1. [ 1 8 ] D r . J a m e s D . W a t s o n , P h . D . a s h e w a s i n t e r v ie w e d b y C h a r l i e Rose most recently in year 2009. [19] Arthur C. Clarke at ‹brainyquotes.com› [ 2 0 ] O t t o He r m a n K h a n a t ‹ b r a i n y q u o t e s . c o m › [ 2 1 ] G e n e r a l F r a n c i s c o d e M i r a n d a f r o m O x f o r d D ic t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s , I S B N : 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 6 1 8 5 - 1 . [22] James Canton, “ T e c h n o f u tu r e s : How Leading-Edge I n n o v a t i o n s W i l l T ra n s f o r m B u s i n e s s in t h e 2 1 s t Ce n t u r y ” b y James Canton (http://amzn.to/bYrN8q ) [23] “Revolutionary Wealth: How it will be created and how it will c ha n g e o u r l i v e s ” b y A l v in T o f f l e r a n d H e i d i T o f f l e r ( I S B N - 1 0 : 038552207X) [ 2 4 ] E l l a W h e e l e r W i lc o x a t ‹ b r a i n y q u o t e s . c o m › [ 2 5 ] “ F u tu r e S h o c k ” b y A lv i n T of f le r ( I S B N - 1 0 : 0 5 5 3 2 7 7 3 7 5 ) [26] “Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever” by Ray Ku r z w e i l a n d T e r r y G r o s s m a n ( I S B N - 1 0 : 0 1 4 0 2 8 2 0 2 5 )
  • 671. 671 [ 2 7 ] “ T ra n s c e n d : N i n e S t e p s t o L i v in g W e l l F o r e v e r ” b y R a y Ku r z w e i l P h . D . a n d T e r r y G r o s s m a n M . D . ( I S B N - 1 0 : 1 6 0 5 2 9 9 5 6 1 ) [28] “Leading the Revolution” by Gary Hamel (ISBN-10: 1591391466) [29] “Emotional Intelligence” by D a n ie l G o le m a n (ISBN- 10:055309503X ) [ 30 ] C r i s s - c r o s s a t O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 [ 3 1] C r i n k u m - c r a n k u m a t Ox f o r d D ic t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 [ 3 2] T e r z e t t o a t O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 [ 3 3] T h é d a n s a n t a t O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 [ 3 4] T e r t i u m q u i d a t O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 [35] Computronium at http://bit.ly/bvf2AE [ 3 6] F u tu r e t r o n i u m a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / a P 2 V l F [ 3 7] “ E i n s t e i n i n t h e B oa r d r o o m ” b y S u z a n n e S . Ha r r i s o n a n d P a t r i c k H . S u l l i v a n S r . ( I S B N - 1 0: 0 - 4 7 1 - 7 0 3 3 2 - X [ 3 8 ] T ê t e - à - t ê t e a t O x f o r d Di c t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 [ 3 9] D i l e t t a n t e s a n d p o s e u r s a t O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 861122-6 [40] “Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by U n d e r s t a n d i n g H o w M e n a n d W o m e n C o p e D if f e r e n t l y w i t h S t r e s s ” b y J o h n G ra y . [41] Multiverse at http://bit.ly/2FTBYa [42] “The Cycle of Leadership” by Noel M. Tichy (ISBN0-06- 662056-2)
  • 672. 672 [43] Herman Kahn’s quotations at http://bit.ly/bgxeP0 [44] “Innovate Like Edison: T he F iv e - S t e p System for B re a k t h r o u g h B u s i n e s s S u c c e s s ” B y M i c h a e l J . G e l b ( I S B N - 1 0 : 0452289823) [ 4 5 ] D é c la s s é a t O x f o r d D ic t i o n a r y ( I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6 ) [ 4 6 ] D é m o d é a t O x f o r d D i c t i o n a r y ( I S B N 0 - 1 9 - 8 6 1 1 2 2 - 6) [ 4 7 ] R i c h a r d B u c k m i n s t e r Fu l l e r a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / a m a h E h [48] Yoctosecond, definition of, at http://bit.ly/c5ZMZS [49] Dr. Pangloss at http://bit.ly/b5LkXL [50] “Monster of omniscience” at page V, first paragraph, Concise Oxford Dictionary (ISBN 0-19-861122-6). Also viewable online at http://bit.ly/Omniscience-Monter-Bibliography [ 5 1 ] Qu o t a t i o n s b y Ka r l P o p p e r a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / d 9 G d e X [ 5 2 ] “ R a d i c a l E v o l u t i o n ” b y J o e l G a r r e a u ( I S B N 0 - 3 8 5 - 5 0 9 6 5 - 0) . [53] Definition of “throughput.” Throughput: Output or production, as of a computer program, over a period of time. The quantity or amount of raw material processed within a given time, e s p . t h e w o r k d o n e b y a n e le c t r o n i c c o m pu t e r i n a g i v e n p e r i o d o f time. An amount of work, etc. done in a particular period of time. Volume of data or material handled: the amount of something such as data or raw material that is processed over a given period. [ 5 4 ] T he A m e r i c a n H e r i t a g e D ic t i o n a r y ’ s ( f o u r t h e d i t i o n , 2 0 0 0) — ISBN 0-395-82517-2
  • 673. 673 [ 5 5 ] B y J o h n F . K e n n e d y , A d d r e s s a t R ic e U n i v e r s i t y o n t h e N a t i o n ' s S pa c e E f f o r t D e l i v e r e d i n H o u s t o n , T e x a s , S e p t e m b e r 1 2 , 1 9 6 2 . S O U R C E : h t t p : / / b i t . l y / c kB J 4 r ( s e e n o n J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 0 7 ) . [56] “The Art of The Long View” ─ ISBN 0-385-26731-2 [57] “The New Religion of Risk Management” by Peter L. B e r n s t e i n , Ha r v a r d B u s i n e s s R e v i e w , M a r c h - A p r i l 1 9 9 6 . [ 5 8 ] A s q u o t e d i n t i t l e ─ I S B N 9 7 8 - 9 8 0 - 2 9 3 - 50 3 - 1 [59] As cited by David Jay's 2006 textbook, “Mavericks of M e d i c i n e ” ( I S B N : 1 - 8 9 0 5 7 2 - 1 9 - 5) [ 60 ] h t t p : / / b i t . l y / L u N R a [ 6 1] E i n s t e i n “ o n b e i n g s m a r t ” a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / E Z M F j [ 6 2] “ A D e v i l ’ s D i c t i o n a r y o f B u s i n e s s ” ( 2 0 0 5 ) — I S B N 1 - 5 6 0 2 5 - 7 1 2 - 1 b y N i c h o l a s v on H o f f m a n [ 6 3] O r i g i n a l s o u r c e : h t t p : / / b i t . l y / a E m A k O [ 6 4] T e x t b o o k : “ L e a d i n g T h e R e v o l u t i o n ” ( I S B N 1 - 5 7 8 5 1 - 1 8 9 - 5) , y e a r 2 0 0 0 , b y G a r y Ha m e l [65] Oxford Dictionary ISBN 0-19-861122-6 [ 6 6] T e x t b o o k k n o w n a s “ A D i c t i o n a r y o f S c i e n t i f i c Q u o t a t i o n s ” b y A la n L . M a c k a y ( I S B N - 1 0 : 0 7 5 0 3 1 0 6 6 ) i n 1 9 9 1 . [ 6 7] D r . S te p h e n H a w k i n g w a s i n t e rv i e w e d b y C N N ' s j o u r n a l i s t Becky Anderson in year 2009. [68] http://bit.ly/9aLCB4 [ 6 9] “ A D i c t i o n a r y o f s c i e n t i f ic qu o t a t i o n s ” B y A l a n L i n d s a y Mackay - ISBN-10: 0750301066
  • 674. 674 [ 7 0 ] T h e O x f o r d d i c t i o n a r y o f qu o t a t i o n s - I S B N - 1 0 : 0 1 9 9 2 3 7 1 7 4 [ 7 1] “ T h e B o o k o f P o s i t i v e Q u o t a t i o n s , ” 2 n d E d i t i o n ( 2 0 0 7) — ISBN-10: 1577491696 [ 7 2] “ T h e Y a le B o o k O f Q u o t a t i o n s ” b y F r e d R . S h a p i r o ( 2 0 0 6 ) — ISBN-10: 0300107986 [ 7 3] W e l l s a i d , w e l l s p o k e n : 7 3 6 qu o t a b l e q u o t e s f o r e d u c a t o r s b y Robert D. Ramsey (1999) — ISBN-10: 0060194111 [ 7 4] Compelling conversations: questions and quotations on timeless topics by Erin He r m a n n Roth (2007) — I S B N - 1 0: 141965828X [75] Wit and Wisdom of the American Presidents: A Book of Qu o t a t i o n s b y J o s l y n T . P i n e ( 2 0 0 0) - I S N - 1 0 : 0 4 8 6 4 1 4 2 7 2 [ 7 6] T he R o u t l e d g e D i c t i o n a r y Of L a t i n Q u o t a t i o n s b y J o n R . S t o n e (2004) ISBN-10: 0415969085 [ 7 7] Q u o t e U n q u o t e b y M . P . S i n g h ( 2 0 0 4) — I S B N : 1 5 5 7 0 9 9 4 0 5 [78] “Inevitable Surprises: Thinking Ahead in a Time of T u r b u l e n c e ” b y P e t e r S c h w a r t z ( 2 0 0 4) — I S B N - 1 0 : 1 5 9 2 4 0 0 6 9 8 [ 7 9] “ M i n d S e t ” b y J o h n N a i s b i t t ( 2 0 0 8 ) — I S B N - 1 0 : 0 0 6 1 1 3 6 8 9 1 [80] http://bit.ly/2lvo4q [ 8 1] A s p e r D a v i d J a y B r o w n ’ s t e x t b o o k “ M a v e r i c k s o f M e d i c in e ” (2006) — ISBN 1-890572-19-5 [ 8 2] S i n gu l a r i t y : W e b s t e r ' s Q u o t a t i o n s , Fa c t s a n d P h r a s e s B y I n c Icon Group International. [83] http://bit.ly/b3aBN4
  • 675. 675 [ 8 4] C u m pu t r o n i u m a t W i k i p e d i a a t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / 4 z T E H n [85] Multiverse at Wikipedia at http://bit.ly/2FTBYa [ 8 6 ] J a m e s N . G a r d n e r ’ s “ T h e I n te l l i g e n t U n i v e r s e ” ( 20 0 7 ) — ISBN-13: 978-1564149190 [ 8 7 ] G a r y H a m e l ’ s t e x t b o o k “ C o m p e t i n g f o r t h e F u tu r e ” ( 1 9 9 6 ) — ISBN-10: 0875847161 [ 8 8 ] G a r y Ha m e l ’ s “ L e a d i n g T h e R e v o l u t i o n ” b o o k — I S B N - 1 0 : 1591391466 [ 8 9 ] E a m o n n k e l l y ’ s b o o k “ P o w e r f u l T i m e s ” ( 2 0 0 6) — I S B N 0 - 1 3 1 - 85520-4 [ 90 ] http://bit.ly/bLrAOk (bibliography to Fuzzy Logic and Qu a n t u m M e c h a n i c s ) [ 9 1] A s c i t e d o n “ T h e J u r a n P r e s c r i p t i o n ” b y K a t h l e e n J e n n i s o n G o o n a n , M D — I S B N 0 — 7 8 7 9 - 00 9 6 [ 9 2] H t t p : / / F u t u r e t r o n i u m . b l o g s p o t . c o m / [ 9 3] h t t p : / / b i t . l y / P a s t _ V s _ N o w [ 9 4] h t t p : / / b i t . l y / I n d u s t r i a l - M i l i t a r y - C o m p l e x [ 9 5 ] T h e S t a t e O f T h e U n iv e r s i t y : Ac a d e m i c K n o w l e d g e s An d T h e K n o w l e d g e O f G o d ( 2 0 0 7 ) B y S ta n l e y H a u e r w a s , B . D . M . A . M . P h i l and Ph.D. — ISBN-10: 0300057253 [ 9 6] h t t p : / / e n . w i k i q u o t e . o r g / w i k i / F u t u r e [ 9 7] h t t p : / / w w w . w f s . o r g / f o r e c a s t s . h t m [ 9 8 ] I n t h e B o o k “ H o w W e De c i d e ” ( 2 0 0 9 ) b y J o n a h L e h r e r — I S B N 978-0-618-62011-1
  • 676. 676 [ 9 9] “ M a n a g i n g R i s k : S y s t e m a t i c L o s s P r e v e n t i o n f o r E x e c u t iv e s ” ( 1 9 8 7 ) — I S B N 0 - 1 3 - 5 5 1 1 1 0 - 0 b y D r . V e r n o n G r o s e , DS c [100] http://bit.ly/9xPbxJ [101] http://bit.ly/9yTWk5 [ 1 0 2 ] A d a m G o r d o n i n B o o k “ F u t u r e S a v v y … ” ( 2 0 0 8 ) — I S B N - 1 0: 0814409121 [103] J. Scott Armstrong in book “Principles of Forecasting…” — ISBN: 0792379306 [ 1 0 4 ] B o b S e i d e n s t i c k e r ' s b o o k " Fu t u r e H y pe . . . " ( 2 00 6 ) — I S B N - 10: 1576753700 [ 1 0 5 ] D r . P h i l i p Z i m b a r d o , P h D ’ s b o o k “ T h e T i m e P a ra d o x ” ( 2 0 0 9) — ISBN-10: 1416541993 [106] Hans Moravec’s “Mind Children: The Future of Robot and Hu m a n I n t e l l i g e n c e ” ( 1 9 9 0 ) — I S B N - 1 0 : 0 6 7 4 5 7 6 1 1 8 7 [ 1 0 7 ] D a v i d J a y B r o w n ’ s “ M a v e r i c k s o f M e d i c in e ” ( 2 0 0 6 ) — I S B N : 1-890572-19-5 [ 1 0 8 ] Q u o t a t i o n s u n de r t h i s n u m b e r e i t h e r h a s b e e n s e n t t o m e v i a e - m a i l o r h a v e e m e r g e d a s a r e s u l t o f p r i v a t e in t e r v i e w s . [109] http://bit.ly/9P6HHB [110] http://bit.ly/be9kE4 [111] Quotations at ‹brainyquotes.com› [ 1 1 2 ] T he A du l t L e a r n e r , S i x t h E d i t i o n : T he De f in i t i v e C l a s s i c in A d u l t E d u c a t i o n a n d H u m a n R e s o u r c e De v e l o p m e n t b y M a lc o l m S . Knowles Ph.D. (2005) — ISBN-10: 0750678372
  • 677. 677 [ 1 1 3 ] N a p o l e o n B o n a pa r t e : A L i f e B y A l a n S c h o m ( 1 9 9 8 ) — I S B N - 10: 0060929588 [ 1 1 4 ] “ S c i e n c e B u t N o t S c i e n t i s t s ” B y V e r n o n G r o s e ( 2 00 6 ) — ISBN-10: 1425969917 [115] Http://www.jfklibrary.org/ [116] Http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/ [ 1 1 7 ] G e ra r d K . O ’ N e i l l ’ s “ T h e H i g h F r o n t i e r ” ( 2 0 0 0) — I S B N - 1 0 : 189652267x [ 1 1 8 ] " L i f e ' s S o l u t i o n : I n e v i t a b l e H u m a n s in a L o n e l y Un i v e r s e " b y S i m o n C o n w a y M o r r i s , P h D — ( 2 0 0 4) — I S B N - 1 0 : 0 5 2 1 6 0 3 2 5 0 [ 1 1 9 ] “ F r a s e s C e l e b r e s P a r a T o d a O c a s i ó n ” ( I n S pa n i s h , “ Fa m o u s Sentences For Every Occasion) ─ (1993) By Rafael Escandon — ISBN 968-13-1285-6 [120] “Our Final Hour” (2003) By Sir Martin Rees — ISBN 0-465- 0682-6 [121] http://bit.ly/xXGMf [122] http://bit.ly/aMQjdV [ 1 2 3 ] “ A R i s k M a n a g e m e n t A p p r o a c h t o B u s in e s s C o n t i n u i t y : A l i g n i n g B u s i n e s s C o n t i n u i t y w i t h C o r p o r a t e G ov e r n a n c e ” ( 20 0 6 ) — I S B N: 1 9 3 1 3 3 2 3 6 3 [124] Dr. Robert A. Collins, PhD’s “Resilience: Protecting your B u s i n e s s f r o m D i s a s t e r s i n a Da n g e r o u s W o r l d ” ( 2 0 0 7 ) — I S B N - 1 0 : 0595409245
  • 678. 678 [ 1 2 5 ] “ T h i n k i n g i n T e c h n i c a l An a l y s i s ” ( 2 0 0 0) B y R i c k B e n s i g n o r — ISBN-10: 1576600491 [126] http://linkd.in/chnhzH [ 1 2 7 ] S ou r c e : “ A g a i n s t T h e G o d s ” ( 1 9 9 8 ) — B y P e t e r L . B e r n s t e i n — I S B N: 0 - 4 7 1 - 2 9 5 6 3 - 9 [128] http://bit.ly/9h9prC [129] Quotations and citations that are solely under the own and u t t e r d i s c e r n m e n t a n d i n t e l le c t u a l f a c u l t i e s o f t h e p r e s e n t a u t h o r . A m o n g m a n y a me n i t i e s t h a t a re d e s c r i b e d i n m y b i o g r a p h y , I a m a pe r p e t u a l a n d r u t h l e s s r e s e a r c h e r . [ 1 3 0 ] “ D i c c i o n a r i o d e C i t a s ” ( S p a n i s h , “ D i c t i o n a r y o f Qu o t a t i o n s ” ) by Castañares y Quiroz ─ ISBN 84-87462-03-0 [ 1 3 1 ] R e s p o n d e n t ’ s a n s w e r s a r e in a c tu a l i t y o w n q u o t a t i o n s o f t h o s e a u t h o r s , w h o s e c i t a t i o n s a r e a c c u ra t e a n d a v a i l a b l e a t <<www.brainyquote.com>>. [132] http://bit.ly/mB6Oo [133] “Principles of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Learning the Essential Domains and Nonlinear Thinking of Master Practitioner” ( 2 0 0 9 ) ─ G e r a l d J . M o z d z i e r s , P a u l R . P e lu s o , J o s e p h L i s i e c k i ─ ISBN-10: 0415997518 [134] “Cracking Creativity” by Michael Michalko ─ ISBN 1-58008- 311-0 [135] “The Definitive Handbook of B u s in e s s Continuity Management” (2007) By Andrew Hiles ─ ISBN 0470516380
  • 679. 679 [ 1 3 6 ] R a y Ku r z w e i l ’ s q u o t a t i o n s a t ‹ b r a i n y q u o t e s . c o m › [137] http://bit.ly/9BWSVQ [138] http://bit.ly/bCOZDF [139] “The World is Flat” By Thomas L. Friedman (2006) ─ ISBN- 10: 0-374-29279-5 [ 1 4 0 ] “ O u t o f Ou r M i n d s : L e a r n i n g t o b e C r e a t i v e ” ( 2 0 0 1 ) B y K e n Robinson – ISBN-10: 1841121258 [141] http://bit.ly/NfD8z [ 1 4 2 ] T h e S i n g u la r i t y i s N e a r ( 2 0 0 5 ) b y R a y K u r z w e i l ─ I S B N 0 - 670-03384-7 [143] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_V._Gerstner,_Jr. [144] www.dni.gov/nic/NIC_2025_project.html [145] http://www.saffo.com/ [146] http://www.monitorinstitute.com/ [ 1 4 7 ] h t t p : / / e n . w i k i q u o t e . or g / w i k i / A l v i n _T o f f l e r [ 1 4 8 ] h t t p : / / w w w . br a i n y q u o t e s . c o m/ q u o t e s / a u t h o r s / a / a l v i n _ t o f f l e r . h t ml [149] http://bit.ly/9gQMiY [150] http://slidesha.re/9CN0mO [151] http://bit.ly/10V0Xm [152] http://bit.ly/dWw04 [ 1 5 3 ] T h e 8 t h H a b i t ( 2 0 0 4 ) B y D r . S te p h e n R . C o v e y ─ I S B N 0 - 684-84665-9
  • 680. 680 [154] Blown to Bits: How the New Economics of Information T ra n s f o r m s S t r a t e g y ( 1 9 9 9 ) ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0 8 7 5 8 4 8 7 7 X B y T h o m a s S . Wurster [ 1 5 5 ] B l o w n t o B i t s : Y o u r L i f e , L i b e r t y , a n d Ha p p i n e s s ( 20 0 8 ) ─ ISBN-10: 0137135599 By Hal Abelson [156] http://bit.ly/a3oaUk [ 1 5 7 ] “ T h e F a i l u r e o f R i s k M a n a g e m e n t ” ( 2 0 0 9) ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0470387955 By Douglas W. Hubbard [158] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/futurism [ 1 5 9 ] h t t p : / / w w w . t h e f r e e d i c t i o n a r y . c o m / f u tu r o l o g y [ 1 6 0 ] “ F u t ur i s t i c s : L o o k i n g A h e a d ” ( 2 0 0 5 ) B y Dr . A r t h u r B . S h o s t a k , Ph.D. ─ ISBN-10: 0791084019 [ 1 6 1 ] “ M o v i n g A l o n g : F a r A h e a d ” ( 2 0 0 5) B y D r . A r t h u r B . S h o s t a k ─ ISBN-10: 0791084043 [162] “Creating Better Futures: Scenario Planning As a Tool for A Better Tomorrow” ( 20 0 2 ) By James A. Ogilvy ─ I S B N - 1 0: 0195146115 [ 1 6 3 ] “ A s t h e F u tu r e s C a t c h e s Y o u : H o w G e n o m i c s & O t h e r F o r c e s A r e C h a n g i n g Y o u r L i f e , W o r k , He a l t h a n d W e a l t h ” ( 2 0 0 5) B y J u a n Enriquez ─ ISBN-10: 1400047749 [ 1 6 4 ] “ R o b o s a p i e n s : E v o l u t i o n o f a N e w S p e c i e s ” ( 2 0 0 1) B y P e t e r M e n z e l a n d F a i t h D ’ A lu i s i o ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0 2 6 2 6 3 2 4 5 4 [ 1 6 5 ] “ B e y o n d Hu m a n i t y : C y b e r e v o l u t i o n a n d F u t u r e M i n d s ” ( 1 9 9 6 ) B y G re g o r y S . P a u l a n d E a r l C o x ─ I S B N - 1 0: 1 8 8 6 8 0 1 2 1 5
  • 681. 681 [166] http://bit.ly/gWka0N [ 1 6 7 ] “ M a n a g i n g P r o d u c t a n d S e r v i c e De v e l o p m e n t ” ( 2 0 0 6 ) B y S te f a n T h o m k e ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0 0 7 3 0 2 3 0 1 9 0: [168] “The Art of Asking: Ask Better Questions, Get Better A n s w e r s ” ( 20 0 8 ) B y T e r r y J . Fa d e m ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0 1 3 7 1 4 4 2 4 5 [169] “Beyond Humanity: Cyberevolution and Future Minds” (1996) By Gregory S. Paul and Earl Cox ─ ISBN-10: 1886801215 [ 1 7 0 ] “ T h e F u t u r e a n d I t s E n e m i e s : T h e G r o w i n g C o n f l i c t Ov e r Creativity, Enterprise, and Progress” (1999) By Virginia Postrel ─ ISBN-10: 0684862697 [ 1 7 1 ] “ V i s i o n s : H o w S c i e n c e H i l l R e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e 2 1 s t Ce n t u r y ” ( 1 9 9 8 ) B y D r . M i c h i o Ka k u , P h . D . ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0 3 8 5 4 8 4 9 9 2 [172] http://bit.ly/dXWGm2 [173] http://bit.ly/guBaWL [ 1 7 4 ] “ P h y s i c s o f t h e I m p o s s i b l e : A S c ie n t i f ic E x p l o r a t i o n i n t o t h e W o r l d o f P h a s e r s , F o r c e F i e l d s , T e l e p o r t a t i o n , a n d T i m e T ra v e l ” ( 2 0 0 9 ) ─ I S B N - 1 0 : 0 3 0 7 2 7 8 8 2 4 B y D r . M i c h i o Ka k u [ 1 7 5 ] “ T h e G u t e n b e r g G a l a x y: T h e M a k i n g o f T y p o g r a p h i c M a n ” ( 1 9 6 2 ) B y D r. M a r s h a l l M c L u h a n , P h . D . ─ I S B N - 1 0: 0 8 0 2 0 6 0 4 1 2 [176] http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B16U920101203 CHAPTER 9
  • 682. 682 A D D I T I O N A L B I B L I O G R A P H Y FO R S U G G E S T ED R E A D IN G T h e S i n gu l a r i t y I s N e a r : W h e n H u m a n s T r a n s c e n d B i o l o g y b y R a y Ku r z w e i l ( h t t p : / / a m z n . t o / c o 6 t R s ) L e s s o n s f r o m t h e F u tu r e : M a k i n g S e n s e o f a B lu r r e d W o r l d f r o m the World's Leading Futurist by S ta n l e y M. Da v i s (http://amzn.to/colOCU ) It's Alive: The Coming Convergence of Information, Biology, and Business by Christopher Meyer and Stan Da v i s (http://amzn.to/dCMqzv) B l u r : T he S pe e d o f C h a n g e in t h e C o n n e c t e d E c o n o m y b y S t a n Davis and Christopher Meyer (http://amzn.to/98fuay ) Future Wealth by S ta n l e y M. Da v i s and Christopher M e ye r (http://amzn.to/9V9Rk9 ) T h e I n t e l l i g e n t U n i v e r s e : AI , E T , a n d t h e E m e r g i n g M in d o f t h e Cosmos by James N. Gardner and Ray Kurzweil (http://amzn.to/dv22bO)
  • 683. 683 S e e i n g W ha t ' s N e x t : U s i n g T h e o r i e s o f I n n o v a t i o n t o P r e d i c t Industry Change by Clayton M. Christensen, Erik A. Roth, and Scott D. Anthony ( http://amzn.to/bLyEIo ) Ou r Final Hour: A Scientist's Warning by Martin J. Rees ( http://amzn.to/cRz6KE ) Technofutures: How Leading-Edge Innovations Will Transform Business in the 21st Century by James Canton (http://amzn.to/bYrN8q ) T h e E x t r e m e F u t u r e : T h e T o p T re n d s T ha t W i l l R e s h a p e t h e W o r l d i n t h e N e x t 2 0 Y e a r s b y J a m e s Ca n t o n ( h t t p : / / a m z n . t o / 9 R q N V m ) F u t u r i n g : T h e E x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e Fu t u r e b y E d w a r d C o r n i s h ( http://amzn.to/9sWhV1 ) CHAPTER 9 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mr. Andres Agostini is — first and foremost — a Global I n d e p e n d e n t P r o f e s s i o n a l C o n s u l t i n g S e rv i c e s C o n t r a c t o r , a s w e l l a s a M e m b e r o f t h e A d v i s o r y B oa r d o f AC C G r o u p W o r l d w i d e ( Ne w York, Miami, London). He is also Executive Associate for Global
  • 684. 684 Markets at Omega Systems Group Incorporated (Arlington, Virginia, USA). H e h a s 3 0 y e a r s o f a p p l i e d , p r o f e s s i o n a l / e m p i r i c a l e x pe r i e n c e . He has two majors on insurance management in the U.S. took “Mechanical Engineering Technology” in Dawson College ( M o n t r e a l , C a n a d a ) , a s we l l a s L i n g u i s t i c s c o u r s e s i n Qu e e n ' s U n i v e r s i t y a n d S a i n t L a w r e n c e C o l l e g e ( b o t h a t K i n g s t o n , On t a r i o , Canada). He took “Mechanical Engineering” in U n iv e r s i d a d M e t r o p o l i t a n a , C a r a c a s , V e n e zu e l a . T h r o u g h h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l l i f e a n d b e y o n d u p pe r e d u c a t i o n , h e became engaged in being trained and indoctrinated by the most prominent minds and global organizations, out of the U.S. and the U . K . i n t o : ( a ) M a n a g e m e n t , ( b) R i s k M a n a g e m e n t , ( c ) G r o u p E m p l o y e e B e n e f i t s , ( d) I n s u r a n c e , ( e ) R e i n s u r a n c e a n d m a n y o t h e r subject matter dealing with transformation of: (1) Organizations, (2) Management, ( 3) Leadership, (4) Business, (5) Scenario Method (beyond the three-scenario mode), ( 6) Systems M e t h o d o l o g i e s , ( 7) S y s t e m s S a f e t y , ( 8) S y s t e m s S e c u r i t y , ( 9) S y s t e m s R e l i a b i l i t y , a n d ( 1 0 ) P r o f e s s i o n a l Fu t u r o l o g y . B e y o n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f m e t h o d o l o g i e s s u c h a s T o t a l Qu a l i t y Assurance, Ka i s e n ( i n c lu d i n g the Toyota Production System
  • 685. 685 « T P S » ) , L e a n M a n u f a c tu r i n g , S i x S i g m a , L e a n S i g m a , Re l i a b i l i t y E n g i n e e r i n g ( a s i t i s j o i n t l y u n de r s t o o d a n d u t i l i z e d b y P r o c t e r a n d Gable and Los A la m o s National Laboratories) and other Multidimensional approaches, he is the f ou n d e r and sole proprietor of the methodology “TRANSFORMATIVE AND I NT E G R A T I V E RISK MANAGEMENT,” based on Systems Methodology and with the applied omniscience perspective, designed by Andres Agostini in 2005. (http://bit.ly/Transformative_and_Integrative_Risk_Management ) M r . A g o s t i n i i s pa s s i o n a t e a b o u t ( a ) t h e FU T U R E , ( b ) A p p l i e d O m n i s c i e n c e A c t i v i s t , ( c ) N o t “ i n s u r a n c e - b a s e d ” T ra n s f o r m a t i v e and Integrative Risk Management, ( d) Mind Expansionist Practitioner. I enjoy teaching a great deal! A N I D E A W O R T H S P R E A D I N G AS P E R M R . AG O S T I N I ! W e c a n a l l attempt the best to tackle so many global crises. Those concern me. However, there is one global crisis that TAKES PRECEDENT AND T U T E L A G E F R O M A N Y OT H E R C R I S I S . HE'S REFERRING TO THE EXTREMELY GRAVE AND UNIVERSAL, EXISTENTIAL RISK CONCERNING SYSTEMATIC VIOLATIONS A G A I N S T M O R A L I T Y , P R I N C I P L E S , V A L U E S , A N D E T H I CS . H e ' s
  • 686. 686 given you — as he perceives it — a profound womb-to-tomb reflections for a number of years. In the mean time, disruption potential and its corresponding vulnerabilities are staggeringly compounding in t o an immeasurable defiance to Earth in its totality. Ethics AND serious r u le o f l a w A N D t r u e j u s t i c e A N D z e r o c a la m i t i e s e qu a l t o s o m e viable chances as we grasp the convergence of technologies with t h e a p p l i e d o m n i s c i e n c e pe r s p e c t i v e . In fact, with a “tsunami” of new knowledge (and subsequently an e p i c f l o o d o f o b s o l e d g e ) a n d n ov e l s k i l l s w e m i g h t h a v e a c h a n g e o f p r o s p e r i t y . W e m u s t a l l r e m e m b e r t h a t a l l “ P R O B L E M S ” a re b e c a u s e o f i g n o r a n c e , e s p e c ia l l y t h a t i g n o r a n c e d e p l o y e d b y t h o s e supposed to have empowered minds that in actuality worship their preferred path: own supine ignorance in extremis! TALK TO HIM ABOUT! We mu s t embrace ( i) science and t e c h n o l o g y , ( i i ) u n c o n v e n t i o n a l t h i n k i n g in e x c e l s i s , ( i i i) m o r a l i t y a n d e t h i c s , ( i v ) c i v i c s , j u s t i c e , a n d r i g o r o u s l a w r u l i n g , a s we l l a s c o m p a s s i o n , h u ma n i t y a n d r e a l l y e n f o r c e d h a r m o n y a n d p e a c e . “ P E O P L E D O N ' T K N O W T H A T I ' M G O O D A T , ” AS T H I S Q U E S T I O N W A S O R I G I N A L L Y R E F E R R E D T O M E AT ! P e o p l e d o n ’ t k n o w t h a t
  • 687. 687 he's p a r t i c u la r l y good at — with the applied omniscience pe r s p e c t i v e a n d s y s t e m s m e t h o d o l o g y — s e e i n g a n d c on c e iv i n g a n d developing existential problems/fixes way in a dv a n c e and d e c i s i v e l y , a n d s o l v i n g a wf u l l y c o m p l e x d i f f ic u l t i e s t h a t r e qu i r e maximum precision. A STORY TO SHARE! He’s had and still have the pleasure to be h i r e d b y c u s t o m e r s a n d o p e r a t e w i t h pa r t n e r s b e f o r e t h e m o s t d a r i n g a n d p r e s s i n g s i t u a t i o n s . F o r t u n a t e l y, e d u c a t e d i n t h e US A , C a n a d a , a n d G r e a t B r i t a i n i n a c a de m i a a n d c h ie f l y in p r o f e s s i o n . H e h a s a u n i q u e w a y o f s e e in g p r o b l e m s a n d t h e i r s o l v i n g . L u c k i l y a n d t o h i s a dv a n t a g e , h e h a s w o r k e d i n ma n y t e n u r e s a n d f o r a whole array of disparate industries. S u b s e q u e n t l y , h e f e e l s qu i t e c o m f o r t a b l e i n d e a l i n g w i t h a g a m u t o f b u s i n e s s i s s u e s , i n c lu d i n g s o m e u n d e r t a k e n b y s o m e s u p r a n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s t h e W o r l d B a n k a n d s p e c i a l a ge n c ie s l i ke o r r e la t e d t o o r a s p i r i n g t o i n s t i t u t i n g b e s t p r a c t i c e s b y N A S A . He is always ready to take on an even more stringent challenge e v e r y t i m e . H e n e v e r a dv i s e s t o m a k e c r i s e s w a i t w h e n t h e r e i s s o much learning to capture in solving said crises.
  • 688. 688 He doesn’t only do a great deal of researching, experimenting/testing. But he, too, does huge studying and studying present “evidence falsifying” (a là Sir Karl Popper) to walk several steps forward towards the optimum omniscience repository applicable by him and via others. He can go from huge structuralism to highly amorphous and a combination ( de - s t r u c t u r a l i s m ) of those two without losing consistency, congruency, sense of direction, ambient/environment a wa r e n e s s a n d e f f i c a c y . H e h a s a d d r e s s e d m a j o r a d v i s o r y s e r v i c e s t o t o p e x e c u t iv e s f r o m Fortune-1000 corporations. Some of its clients include, World Bank, GE, GMAC, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Abbot Laboratories. HI S M OS T S U C C I N C T B I O http://bit.ly/dsSMix I NT E L L E C T U A L M A N I F E S T O O F A N D R E S A G OS T I N I 3 . 0 http://bit.ly/a485i9 1.-HIS EXTENDED PROFESSIONAL PROFILE http://bit.ly/9ZCMky
  • 689. 689 2 . - HI S P E R S O N A L I T Y T Y P E a t http://bit.ly/cWEuSN 3.- WORKS, RESOURCES, TESTIMONIALS, AND REFERENCES at http://bit.ly/bwx4oW 4.- IMPORTANT CONTACTS AND WORK PERFORMED at http://bit.ly/cvJhzL 5.-IMPORTANT RESOURCES at http://bit.ly/cZFE7t http://bit.ly/a5Nuv7 http://bit.ly/cQL4ND http://bit.ly/d2RGC1 http://scr.bi/a7CYPL http://scr.bi/bIaMAL http://bit.ly/Scribd_on_Agostini 6- RECENT BOOK http://bit.ly/aa-Book 7 . - M Y OW N L I N K E D I N G R O U P S FUTURETRONIUM LINKEDIN GROUP
  • 690. 690 h t t p : / / b i t . l y / F u tu r e t r o n i u m _ a t _ L i n k e d i n B E C O M I N G A W A R E O F T H E FU T U R E S L I N K E D I N G R O U P h t t p : / / b i t . l y / F u tu r e s _ G r o u p _ L i n k e d i n ACCOMPLISHER’S SUCCESS TENETS http://bit.ly/Andres_Agostini_Success_Tenets TRANSFORMATIVE AND INTEGRATIVE RISK MANAGEMENT h t t p : / / b i t . l y / T r a n s - R i s k - M a n a g e m e n t - L i n ke d i n NEUROTRONIUM® http://linkd.in/Neurotronium_at_Linkedin NEUROWISE® http://linkd.in/Neurowise_at_Linkedin 8 . - W HI T E P A P E R S B Y A N D R E S AG O S T I N I http://bit.ly/ceoiVD 9.- ORGANIZATIONS HE HAS EXTENSIVELY WORKED WITH at http://bit.ly/aW9eEx 1 0 . - A N A S A S C I E N T I S T A S S E S S E S A N D HI R E S A N D R E S
  • 691. 691 http://bit.ly/dwZ9je 1 1 . - S O M E C O N T A C T S A N D HI S R E P U T A T I O N O V E R T H E W EB AT http://bit.ly/cHgeRy update 12.- “TRANSFORMATIVE AND INTEGRATIVE RISK M A N A G E M E N T ” ( M Y OW N M ET H O D ) AT http://bit.ly/Transformative_and_Integrative_Risk_Management 1 3 . - A P P L I E D O M N I S C I E N C E D E F I N E D B Y A N D R E S A G OS T I N I A T http://bit.ly/9exDn1 14.- MY LINES OF PRACTICES http://bit.ly/bBJgeu 15.- ORGANIZATIONS HE HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH http://bit.ly/9AqJYA 1 6 . - W H I T E P A P E R S B Y A N D R E S AG O S T I N I http://bit.ly/WhitePaper-Jul10-2010 http://bit.ly/WhitePaper-Jul12-2010 http://bit.ly/WhitePaper-Jul13-2010 http://bit.ly/ceoiVD
  • 692. 692 17.- IS ANDRES AN “ACADEMICIAN” GIVEN THE GOOGLE SCHOLAR PUBLICATION AT? http://bit.ly/cTKAhx 18.- AT XING at http://bit.ly/a6NRbO 19- DOWNLOAD HIS “…FUTURE…ELICITING…BOOK…” at http://bit.ly/cmPqnT 2 0 . - S E A R C H E N G I N E S A B O U T A N D R E S A G OS T I N I BY GOOGLE http://bit.ly/9V6juP B Y B I NG http://bit.ly/aOb5WW BY YAHOO http://bit.ly/a0PNbg BY ALTAVISTA http://bit.ly/arlj8m
  • 693. 693 21.- VIDEOS BY ANDRES AGOSTINI YOUTUBE VIDEOS http://bit.ly/c0tnPK YAHOO VIDEOS http://bit.ly/9rd8Z5 GOOGLE VIDEOS http://bit.ly/dCGnXH B I N G VI D E O S http://bit.ly/d5dboj 2 2 . - N O T A B E N E : O t h e r r e s o u r c e s — i n c l u d i n g c re d e n t i a l s a n d evidences issued by third parties — regarding my previous works and business relationships, as well as accomplishments, — has b e e n s h o w n i n a c c o r d a n c e t o p r i o r le t t e r s o f p e r m i s s i o n b y s u c h third parties. Ensuing: http://bit.ly/9etjhN http://bit.ly/uCMxT http://bit.ly/Bc4Aw http://bit.ly/dj5p34
  • 694. 694 h t t p : / / b i t . l y / F I p zG http://bit.ly/aVZjy7 http://bit.ly/uYE7j http://bit.ly/9dF41R http://bit.ly/9LOoz1 http://bit.ly/cMqNeI http://bit.ly/92SCHV http://bit.ly/9BJiMm http://bit.ly/bBWoqn http://bit.ly/9uB1RI http://bit.ly/c1OiBG http://bit.ly/3QnRG http://bit.ly/b94uH4 24.- TRENDS VS. DRIVING FORCES, A CLARITY-DRIVEN P A T HW A Y BEFORE A UNIVERSAL MANAGEMENT AND SCIENTIFIC BLUNDER! By (c) Copyright 2010 by Andres Agostini — A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e d — A t h t t p : / / b i t . l y / T r e n d s - V s - D r i v in g - F o r c e s By © C o p y r i g h t 2 01 0 A n dr e s A g o s t i n i — A l l R i g h t s R e s er v e d — Founder, Developer and Sole Proprietor of the: “Transformative and Integrative Risk Management” ( P r o b l e m - S o l v in g ) M e t h o d ol o g y .
  • 695. 695 At http://bit.ly/Transformative_and_Integrative_Risk_Management http://www.linkedin.com/in/AndresAgostini http://www.twitter.com/sciczar http://fcinf.com/v/cmkj http://www.google.com/profiles/AgoNews (This Proprietary Book may be reproduced for noncommercial purposes if it is copied in its entirety, including this notice.) Please recall that “if it is copied in its entirety, including this notice.”) By © C o p y r i g h t 2 01 0 A n dr e s A g o s t i n i — A l l R i g h t s R e s er v e d —
  • 696. 696 The websites for Futuretronium ® is at: http://Futuretronium.blogspot.com h t t p : / / b i t . l y / F u tu r e t r o n i u m _ a t _ L i n k e d i n ( Ad d i t i o n s a n d / o r u p g r a d e s a n d / or u p d a t i n g s w il l b e a v a i l a b l e on those websites). Point of Contact at http://bit.ly/Agostini_contact By © C o p y r i g h t 2 01 0 A n dr e s A g o s t i n i — A l l R i g h t s R e s er v e d —
  • 697. 697 CONTACT The website of Futuretronium at: Http://Futuretronium.blogspot.com/ T h e w e b s i t e o f A n d r e s A g os t i n i a t : http://bit.ly/A-Agost Andres Agostini at Linkedin: Http://www.linkedin.com/in/AndresAgostini Andres Agostini at Google Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/AgoNews